The role of Sahara highlands in the diversification and desert colonization of the Bosc's fringe‐toed lizard

Aim The biogeographic history of the Sahara-Sahel desert is tightly linked to its extreme and fluctuating palaeoclimate diverse topography. For mesic species inhabiting region, coastal areas Nile Valley are perceived as main pathways disperse through habitats, but past connections may have also occurred throughout currently isolated mountain regions. Herein, we test trans-Sahara corridor hypothesis (i.e., connectivity across Central Sahara highlands) role in diversification a small terrestrial vertebrate. Location North Africa Arabia. Taxon Acanthodactylus boskianus (Squamata: Lacertidae). Methods We integrated multi-locus mitochondrial nuclear phylogenies with species’ climate-niche modelling, including palaeo-projections. Genetic analyses aimed assess genetic structure, identify lineages diversity, reconstruct ancestral biogeography. Species’ stability was modelled independently for Late Pleistocene-Holocene Plio-Pleistocene, infer historical climatic refugia dispersal corridors. Results Four spatially structured lineages, integrating several parapatric sub-lineages, originated during Plio-Pleistocene. Nuclear data revealed nine potential candidate species. Climatic were located mountains fringes, remaining consistent Recurrent North-South corridors along periphery, while others less frequent found Sahara. Ancestral biogeography recovered recent Pleistocene colonization Sahel eastern either or origin populations. Main conclusions triggered by combination Plio-Pleistocene cycles complex topographic where acted hotspots. highlands non-peripheral corroborated. In addition, intermittent Mediterranean ecoregions refugia, suggesting existence alternative routes putative