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The European common lizard  Zootoca vivipara  exhibits reproductive bimodality, with populations being either viviparous or oviparous. In the central-eastern Italian Alps oviparous populations ( Z. v. carniolica ) and viviparous populations ( Z. v. vivipara ) partly overlap geographically. Studying the evolutionary relationship between these taxa presents an interesting opportunity to gain insight into the evolution of this trait. We aim to :  i) test whether  Z. v. carniolica , which is endangered, constitutes an ESU (Evolutionary Significant Unity); ii) infer mtDNA divergence time between the  Z. v. carniolica  clade and all the other  Z. vivipara  subspecies with the aid of an external calibration point; and iii) describe the phylogeographical and demographic scenarios in the area. To do so we sequenced about 200 individuals for mitochondrial variation; 64 of them were also analysed for three nuclear genes. Furthermore, we analysed the same nuclear markers in 17 individuals from the other oviparous subspecies  Z. v. louislantzi  and 11 individuals of  Z. v. vivipara  from widespread geographical origins. The mtDNA and nDNA loci that we examined supported the monophyly of  Z. v. carniolica . The mtDNA-based estimate of divergence time between  Z. v. carniolica  and all the other subspecies indicated a separation at 4.5 Mya (95% CI 6.1–2.6), with about 5% of sequence divergence. Considering that  Z. v. carniolica  harbours higher genetic diversity, while  Z. v. vivipara  from central-eastern Alps shows a signature of recent population and spatial expansion, we argue that  Z. v. carniolica  represents a distinct evolutionary unit, with a presumably long-term evolutionary history of separation.  Z. v. carniolica  populations, occurring at higher latitudes and altitudes than insofar supposed, live in peat bogs, a seriously threatened habitat: taking into account also its evolutionary distinctness, specific conservation measures should be considered.

plos one

Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA Survey of Zootoca vivipara across the Eastern Italian Alps: Evolutionary Relationships, Historical Demography and Conservation Implications