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MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN INSULAR LACERTID LIZARDS 225

Fig. 8 Box plots of Relative Warps 1 and 2 (RW1, RW2) in populations of Podarcis sicula (S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8,
S9, S12), P. wagleriana (W1, W2, W3, W6, W7, W8), and P. raffonei (R2, R3, R4). For population codes see table 1.
Samples with N < 3 were excluded from the analysis.

samples from large (Sicily) and small islands (e.g. populations occurring all over the study area (e.g.
Favignana, Lipari). The fact that P. sicula is Capula, 1992; Corti & Lo Cascio, 2002). On the other
characterized by a reduced size and shape variability in hand, P. raffonei, which displays a high degree of
this part of its range is worthy of note, and it must be phenotypic plasticity when compared to P. sicula and P.
stressed that the same samples of P. sicula used in this wagleriana, has a very reduced geographic range
study were characterized by low levels of genetic (Capula et al., 2002; Capula & Lo Cascio, 2006). On this
variability, probably because of genetic drift phenomena regard, it is to be noted that Podarcis raffonei has a
(Capula, 1994a, 1994b; Oliverio et al., 1998; Capula & genetic structure more subdivided than P. sicula and P.
Ceccarelli, 2003). Morphometric variation in Podarcis wagleriana (cf. Capula, 2004, 2006a), but is
wagleriana is higher than in P. sicula, and Podarcis characterized by very reduced levels of genetic variation
raffonei is the most variable species, both in size and (Capula, 2006b). This species is geographically highly
shape. This species is also characterized by an allometric fragmented, with small or very small populations
pattern which is different from that of the other two occurring almost exclusively on small or very small
species. In particular, the sample from Scoglio islands (Capula, 2004, 2006a; Capula et al., 2002).
Faraglione (R3) shows the highest variability and is
morphologically differentiated from the Strombolicchio ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
(R2) and Vulcano (R4) samples. Intraspecific The authors wish to thank Arianna Ceccarelli, Ernesto
morphological variation of Podarcis lizards from Sicily
and the circumsicilian islands seems to be related to the Filippi, Mauro Picone, and Alberto Zilli for their help in the
pattern of geographic population fragmentation and laboratory. The final draft of the manuscript benefitted of the
population size. In this respect, P. sicula appears to be critical revision and useful suggestions by Prof. James F.
the less morphologically variable and at the same time Rohlf, who helped to improve the manuscript and to whom the
the most widespread species, with large or very large authors are gratefully indebted. This paper is dedicated to the
memory of Marco Corti.