Species identification of Caucasian rock lizards in the Jradzor population (Armenia) based on microsatellite genotyping data

A characteristic feature ofCaucasian rock lizards is the diversity of parthenogenetic species andthe ongoing processes of interspecific hybridization in the zones ofsympatry of unisexual and bisexual species with the formation ofpolyploid hybrids. This is the reason for the interest instudying the species composition of various, especially mixed, populations ofDarevskia. According to the preliminary description of the morphologicalcharacteristics of lizards from the previously unstudied Jradzor population ofArmenia, it was assumed that only unisexual individuals live init, but the affiliation of the species was questioned. Inthe present work, microsatellite genotyping of lizards from this population(n = 24) was carried out using locus-specific PCR andsubsequent full-length sequencing of the identified alleles. As a result,the species composition of this sample was established, including individualsof the parthenospeciesDarevskia dahli,D. unisexualis,andD. armeniaca. Individuals identified asD. dahlihave the same alleles from the studied loci as inother populations of Armenia. However, the multilocus genotypes formed bythe alleles are different. The individual identified asD. armeniacacarries the most common multilocus genotype. In D. unisexualisindividuals,a new allele (allele B) was identified at the Du281locus, which reflects the phenomenon of intraspecific polymorphism of parthenogeneticspecies. Thus, an unusual feature of the Jradzor population isthe sympatric habitation of three and possibly four parthenogenetic speciesofDarevskia, if the presence of D. uzzellii in Armenia is further confirmed.

genusDarevskia, parthenogenetic species, hybridspecies, locus-specific PCR amplification, microsatellites, multilocus genotype