Skin morphology of five species of rock lizards of the genus Darevskia (Lacertidae, Squamata)

The microstructure of the tuberculate dorsal and lamellar ventral skin of the body in rock lizards of different ages (Darevskia raddei, D. nairensis, D. valentini, D. dahli, D. armeniaca) has been described for the first time. The thickness of the skin in the most xerophilic species (D. raddei) is less than that in the more hygrophilic species. Rock lizards have single or paired longitudinal skin folds that are not closed from the side, which stretch along the inner side of the scales to its distal edge. Small folds are also present in the lining of the squamous pocket; they consist of all layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. A large fold is able to completely block the cavity of the squamous pocket, the volume of which changes with the contraction of the subcutaneous muscle bundles reaching the bases of the scales. Small folds are also present on the scales of tuberous skin. In hygrophilic lizards (Zootoca vivipara), similar formations appear at later stages of postnatal ontogenesis than in rock lizards. The probable functional significance of the described skin structures is discussed.