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<abstract xmlns="http://eprints.org/ep2/data/2.0">A350-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b&#13;
gene was sequenced in the Caucasian salamander,&#13;
Mertensiella caucasica, representing 10 populations&#13;
from across its range along the Black Sea coast. Five&#13;
haplotypes were discovered among 65 fragments analyzed,&#13;
differing at 2–50 positions. The highest differentiation&#13;
between haplotypes was observed in animals&#13;
from the eastern part of the species’ range (Borjomi)&#13;
compared to those from the remainder of the species’&#13;
range. Randomly amplified nuclear DNA revealed a&#13;
pattern of spatial genetic variation similar to that of&#13;
the mitochondrial genome. M. caucasica, as currently&#13;
known, represents two evolutionary lineages that&#13;
evolved independently, perhaps since the lower&#13;
Pliocene. These lineages represent taxa, possibly to be&#13;
described as species, distributed in the Borjomi area in&#13;
central Georgia and in southwestern Georgia and&#13;
northeastern Turkey. The multivariate analysis of morphological data did not reveal significant differences&#13;
between the taxa. However, substantial morphological&#13;
differentiation was observed within both lineages,&#13;
showing parallel patterns in body proportions and&#13;
coloration patterns. This variation is possibly associated&#13;
with extant ecological conditions. Salamanders&#13;
with reduced pigmentation from southwestern Georgia&#13;
were not genetically distinguishable from neighboring&#13;
populations.</abstract>
