Protecting isolated reptile populations outside their main area of distribution: a predictive model of the Dice snake, , distribution in the Czech Republic.

Marginal populations of animals are highly susceptible to environmental pressures associated with climatic changes. Understanding their distribution and ecological requirements is, thus, essential for the development of efficient conservation strategies. The dice snake, , is listed as critically endangered in the Czech Republic.

Origin and haplotype diversity of the northernmost population of (Squamata, Lacertidae): Do lizards respond to climate change and go north?

The northernmost population of the Balkan wall lizards, (Pallas, 1814) was recently discovered in the Czech Republic. We studied genetic variability in a mitochondrial marker to shed light on the origin of this remote population. We detected three unique haplotypes, close to those occurring in the populations of from central/north Balkans and Hungary.

Genome of the Komodo dragon reveals adaptations in the cardiovascular and chemosensory systems of monitor lizards.

Monitor lizards are unique among ectothermic reptiles in that they have high aerobic capacity and distinctive cardiovascular physiology resembling that of endothermic mammals. Here, we sequence the genome of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, the largest extant monitor lizard, and generate a high-resolution de novo chromosome-assigned genome assembly for V. komodoensis using a hybrid approach of long-range sequencing and single-molecule optical mapping.

Shared Ancient Sex Chromosomes in Varanids, Beaded Lizards, and Alligator Lizards.

Sex determination in varanids, Gila monsters, beaded lizards, and other anguimorphan lizards is still poorly understood. Sex chromosomes were reported only in a few species based solely on cytogenetics, which precluded assessment of their homology. We uncovered Z-chromosome-specific genes in varanids from their transcriptomes.

Conserved sex chromosomes and karyotype evolution in monitor lizards (Varanidae).

Despite their long history with the basal split dating back to the Eocene, all species of monitor lizards (family Varanidae) studied so far share the same chromosome number of 2n = 40. However, there are differences in the morphology of the macrochromosome pairs 5-8. Further, sex determination, which revealed ZZ/ZW sex microchromosomes, was studied only in a few varanid species and only with techniques that did not test their homology.

Isolating Chromosomes of the Komodo Dragon: New Tools for Comparative Mapping and Sequence Assembly.

We developed new tools to build a high-quality chromosomal map of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) available for cross-species phylogenomic analyses. First, we isolated chromosomes by flow sorting and determined the chromosome content of each flow karyotype peak by FISH. We then isolated additional Komodo dragon chromosomes by microdissection and amplified chromosome-specific DNA pools.

First Description of the Karyotype and Sex Chromosomes in the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis).

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest lizard in the world. Surprisingly, it has not yet been cytogenetically examined. Here, we present the very first description of its karyotype and sex chromosomes.

Built to bite: feeding kinematics, bite forces, and head shape of a specialized durophagous lizard, Dracaena guianensis (teiidae).

Most lizards feed on a variety of food items that may differ dramatically in their physical and behavioral characteristics. Several lizard families are known to feed upon hard-shelled prey (durophagy). Yet, specializations toward true molluscivory have been documented for only a few species.

A mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of the endangered vipers of the Vipera ursinii complex.

The last two populations of the Hungarian meadow viper Vipera ursinii rakosiensis were thought to persist in the steppe fragments of Hungary until meadow vipers were discovered in central Romania (Transylvania), suggesting a possible existence of remnant populations elsewhere. We assessed the phylogenetic position of the Transylvanian vipers using 2030 bp of mitochondrial DNA sequence. We showed that they were closely related to the Hungarian vipers, while those from northeastern Romania (Moldavia) and Danube Delta belonged to the subspecies Vipera ursinii moldavica.

Decommissioning Activities for NPP A-1 in the Slovak Republic.

This paper describes decommissioning activities and a proposed methodology for calculation of decommissioning parameters for the NPP A-1 in Jaslovske Bohunice in Slovak Republic. Health Phys.

Decommissioning activities for NPP A-1 in the Slovak Republic.

This paper describes decommissioning activities and a proposed methodology for calculation of decommissioning parameters for the NPP A-1 in Jaslovske Bohunice in Slovak Republic.