Mediterranean islands have a high diversity of squamates, although they are unevenly distributed. This variability in the composition of the reptile assemblages across islands may have been influenced by differences in the colonization abilities of these species. To evaluate the dispersal capacities of squamate species, we modeled their sea routes using cost surface models. We estimated the effects of some life-history traits and the phylogenetic signal in the characteristics of the modeled dispersal paths. We hypothesized that a significant phylogenetic signal should be present if the dispersal ability is enhanced by traits shared among evolutionarily related species. The results showed that no phylogenetic signal was present in the characteristics of the dispersal paths (i.e., in the distance traveled/bypassed sea depth). Thus, no superior island-colonizer lineages were detected in Mediterranean Squamata. However, our analyses also revealed that small-sized lizards were superior to other groups of squamates at dispersing over long distances on the sea.Mediterranean islands have a high diversity of squamates, although they are unevenly distributed. This variability in the composition of the reptile assemblages across islands may have been influenced by differences in the colonization abilities of these species. To evaluate the dispersal capacities of squamate species, we modeled their sea routes using cost surface models. We estimated the effects of some life-history traits and the phylogenetic signal in the characteristics of the modeled dispersal paths. We hypothesized that a significant phylogenetic signal should be present if the dispersal ability is enhanced by traits shared among evolutionarily related species. The results showed that no phylogenetic signal was present in the characteristics of the dispersal paths (i.e., in the distance traveled/bypassed sea depth). Thus, no superior island-colonizer lineages were detected in Mediterranean Squamata. However, our analyses also revealed that small-sized lizards were superior to other groups of squamates at dispersing over long distances on the sea.

Variables definition

Total Steiner = minimum-cost vector connecting the islands, in km

Total travel = summation of travel lengths, in km

Mean distance = total travel/ number of travels, in km

Max distance = longest travel, in km

Average depth = mean sea depth along the travel, in m

Max depth = maximum depth along the travel, in m

%above -150m = proportion of the travel with sea depth < ‒150 m

The attached number 1,2, & 3 referred to the resistance models 1 = minimum resistance, M2 = mean resistance, M3 = maximum resistance.