Molecular characterization of native (Italy) and introduced (USA) Podarcissicula populations (Reptilia, Lacertidae)

The wall lizard Podarcis sicula has been introduced in many locations outsi de its native range. Partial sequences from the 12S rDNA, that had proved d iagnostic for the three main subspecies, were used to test specimens from m arginal native and from introduced American populations, The mitochondrial haplotype of a specimen from Apulia, traditionally ascribed to P.s. campert ris, belongs to the P. s. sicula gene-pool. Specimens from a P.s. sicula-P. s. campestris boundary area (southern Latium), with transitional morpholog y but P. s. sicula-like ecology, show mitochondrial haplotypes clearly of t he campestris type. The mitochondrial haplotypes of the American specimens (from Kansas and New York). that originated from captive stocks, were inclu ded in a P.s. campestris clade. A definitive assessment of the status of bo th native and introduced populations will require the use of nuclear marker s.