Characterisation of nine European wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) microsatellite loci of utility across sub-species

Abstract

Human-assisted dispersal of the European wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) has created conservation concerns due to extensive introgression between normally allopatric and genetically distinct lineages. We characterised nine microsatellite loci that amplified in four mtDNA clades belonging to two main evolutionary lineages (broadly belonging to P. m. brogniardii and P. m. nigriventris) known to hybridise in England and Germany. All loci were autosomal and displayed 5–28 alleles. These loci will prove useful for population genetic and parentage studies in hybrid zones.