A new record of the Prokletije rock lizard, Dinarolacerta montenegrina (Squamata: Lacertidae) in Montenegro

The Prokletije rock lizard ( Dinarolacerta montenegrina Ljubisavljevi ć , Arribas, Džuki ć & Carranza 2007) is a distinctly flattened saxicolous small lacertid species. It is one of the two species of the genus Dinarolacerta endemic to south-western Dinaric mountains of the Balkan Peninsula. Up to 2007 it was considered to represent a small isolated population of the Mosor rock lizard ( Dinarolacerta mosorensis ) on the eastern border of the species range (Džuki ć et al. 1997). Ljubisavljevi ć et al. (2007) established the specific status of the Prokletije rock lizard according to clear genetic differences and certain morphological distinctiveness in regard to D. mosorensis and other rock lizards. karst areas

The Prokletije rock lizard (Dinarolacerta montenegrina Ljubisavljević, Arribas, Džukić & Carranza 2007) is a distinctly flattened saxicolous small lacertid species. It is one of the two species of the genus Dinarolacerta endemic to south-western Dinaric mountains of the Balkan Peninsula. Up to 2007 it was considered to represent a small isolated population of the Mosor rock lizard (Dinarolacerta mosorensis) on the eastern border of the species range (Džukić et al. 1997). Ljubisavljević et al. (2007) established the specific status of the Prokletije rock lizard according to clear genetic differences and certain morphological distinctiveness in regard to D. mosorensis and other rock lizards.
D. montenegrina is stenoendemic species of the Prokletije mountain massif where it occupies rocky karst areas above 1550 m a.s.l. (Petrov 2006;Ljubisavljević et al. 2007). Up until now, it has been recorded at two localities in Montenegro and Albania ( Figure 1A). In Montenegro the species is only known from its type locality on Đebeza mt., near the Bukumirsko Jezero Lake, at 1600 m a.s.l. However, Džukić et al. (1997) suggested that it could also occur in other places with suitable habitats of oromediterranean biome within the Prokletije area and adjacent mountains. These habitats could be easily identified by Pinus heldreichii, a tree species on mountains exposed to influence of Mediterranean climate. Guided by this idea we conducted a field survey of suitable areas surrounding the type locality in order to check the distribution of the Prokletije rock lizard. In this article, we present a new record of D. montenegrina in Montenegro.
During a summer field survey within the project "Research, conservation and promotion of the endemic Balkan rock lizards (Dinarolacerta spp.) in Montenegro" we discovered abundant population of D. montenegrina on 14 th July 2014, in area of Kastrat katun (42°34.418'N, 19°29.041'E) at 1455 m a.s.l ( Figure  1B). The new site of the Prokletije rock lizard is situated in the Žijovo Mt., approximately 9 km by road from the type locality ( Figure 1A). The Žijovo Mt., with more than 20 peaks higher than 2000 m a.s.l., is in a broader sense a part of the Prokletije massif at its western limits (Belij 2003).
The habitat of D. montenegrina at Kastrat katun is typically karst area with blocks of limestone rocks and boulders ( Figure 2  The specimens of the Prokletije rock lizard were recorded in the afternoon. They were found to be active at 17,5° C in cloudy, windy and fresh weather up to 16.40 h. Syntopic reptile detected there was Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), while other lizard species were not observed. Anthropogenic activities and possible threats to this species recorded at the site were livestock grazing, cultivation of vegetables (mainly potatoes), building of holiday cottages, renovation and expansion of old huts, removal of stones for building of dry walls and enclosures. Also, the power line passes through this locality. Mainly small piles of solid waste were encountered during a site inspection.
This finding is another confirmation of Džukić et al. (1997) assumption about synergetic link between Dinarolacerta spp. and plant communities formed by relic pine P. herldreichii. Further field surveys in the Prokletije area are required in order to assess the range of D. montenegrina.