A) Doctoral thesis
Molecular characterization of parasites that infect lizards and their influence on colour ornaments. Thesis dissertation Rodrigo Megía-Palma. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 2016.
B) Publications with peer review process
57. Dufresnes, C., Gippner, S., Hofman, S., Litvinchuk, S., Žagar, A., Jablonski, D., Pottier, G., Megía-Palma, R., Sánchez-Montes, G., Jiménez-Robles, O., Ayllón, E., Crochet, P. A., Martínez-Solano, I. (2025). Slippery slopes: Montane isolation and elevational shifts shape the evolution and diversity of Iberolacerta lizards. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
56. Kelly, K., Megía‐Palma, R., Dajčman, U., Blázquez‐Castro, S., Pie, M. R., Žagar, A. (2025). Environmental drivers of scale morphology in a Canary Island lizard across 3700 m of elevation. Journal of Zoology.
55. Mediavilla, C., Fandos, G., Blázquez‐Castro, S., Reguera, S., Barrientos, R., Megía‐Palma, R. (2025). Spatial, Temporal, and Host‐Specificity Patterns of Three Genera of Blood Coccidian Parasites in Two Syntopic Mediterranean Lizards. Integrative Zoology.
54. Garrido-Bautista, J., Moreno-Rueda, G., Zamora-Camacho, F. J., Comas, M., Laghzaoui, E. M., Carretero, M. Á., Rocha, A. D., Arce, S. I., Civantos, E., Megía-Palma, R., da Silva, L. P., Norte, A. C. (2025). Geographic variation in tick parasitism and impact on immune physiology of the lizard Psammodromus algirus across its distribution range. Ecosistemas, 34(2), 2931-2931.
53. Rojas, C. H., Olmeda, Á. S., Valcárcel, F., Sánchez, M., Fitze, P. S., Reguera, S., Moreno-Rueda, G., Martín-Hernández, R., Megía-Palma, R. (2025). Contribución de los lacértidos a la distribución de las garrapatas en la península ibérica. Ecosistemas, 34(2), 2922-2922.
52. Megía-Palma, R., Mediavilla, C., Reguera, S., Barrientos, R. (2025). Fenología de la reproducción y exposición a ácaros hematófagos en dos lacértidos mediterráneos. Ecosistemas, 34(2), 2773-2773.
51. Cottam, D. E., Cosgrove, D. W., Megía-Palma, R., Žagar, A., Blázquez-Castro, S., Faria, J. F., Turner, A. E., Silva, D. O., Pie, M. (2025). Does the Gut Microbiome of the Insular Lizard Gallotia galloti Reflect Variation in Sex, Environment, and Population Genetic Differentiation? Microbial Ecology 88 (1): 61.
50. Žagar, A., Konc, K., Hocevar, M., Dajcman, U., Perc, V., Megía-Palma, R., Carretero, M. A., Drobne, D., Novak, S. (2025). The microstructure of scales varies in four lizard species. Amphibia-Reptilia 1: 1-6.
49. Santos, X., Ayllón, E., Ayres, C., Barja, I., Belliure, I., López-Darias, M., Martínez-Silvestre, A., Pausas, J. G., Puig-Gironés, R., Rato, C., Megía-Palma, R. (2025). Short-term effects of wildfire on Canary Islands' endemic lizards. Basic & Applied Herpetology DOI: https://doi.org/10.11160/bah.301
48. Megía-Palma, R., Mediavilla, C., Reguera, S., Barrientos, R. (2025). Fenología de la reproducción y exposición a ácaros hematófagos en dos lacértidos mediterráneos. Ecosistemas 34(2): 2773.
47. Megía-Palma, R., Sánchez-Montes, G., Netherlands, E., Palomar, G., Martínez-Solano, I. (2024). High prevalence of Trypanosoma infection in Iberian green frogs (Pelophylax perezi) and evidence of a negative relationship between blood parasites and two indices of frog body condition. Basic & Applied Herpetology https://doi.org/10.11160/bah.294.
46. Van Niekerk, J., Forcina, G., & Megía-Palma, R. (2024). Grouping behaviour and anti-predator responses in the helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris. Birds 5(4): 685-702. https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5040047
45. Serén, N., Pinho, C., Megía-Palma, R., Aguilar, P., Žagar, A., Andrade, P., & Carretero, M. A. (2024). Selection on the vascular-remodelling BMPER gene is associated with altitudinal adaptation in an insular lizard. Evolution Letters. https://doi.org/10.1093/evlett/qrae047.
44. Žagar, A., Dajčman, U., Megía-Palma, R., T. Simčič, Barroso, F. M., Baskiera, S., & Carretero, M. A. (2024). Analysis of subcellular energy metabolism in five Lacertidae lizards across varied environmental conditions. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111729
43. De los Ríos-Solera, J. A., Megía-Palma, R., Tarriza, A., Blázquez-Castro, S., Barrientos, R., & Barja, I. (2024). Three yellow patches differently correlate with escape behaviour, morphological traits, leukocytes, parasites, and hormones in a lizard species. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 78:100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03515-x.
42. Faria, J. F., Megía-Palma, R., & Harris, D. J. (2024). Impact of blood parasites on the behaviour of two congeneric wall lizards (genus Podarcis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 78:105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03518-8.
41. Megía‐Palma, R., Cuervo, J. J., Fitze, P. S., Martínez, J., Jiménez‐Robles, O., De la Riva, I., Reguera, S., Moreno-Rueda, G., Blaimont, P., Kopena, R., Barrientos, R., Martín, J., & Merino, S. (2024). Do sexual differences in life strategies make male lizards more susceptible to parasite infection? Journal of Animal Ecology 93(9): 1338-1350. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.14154.
40. Duque-Amado, C., & Megía-Palma, R. (in press). The Mesoamerican giant toad (Rhinella horribilis) as bioindicator of vegetation degradation in a tropical forest. Basic and Applied Herpetology. https://doi.org/10.11160/bah.273.
39. Gilbert, E., Žagar, A., López-Darias, M., Megía-Palma, R., Lister, K. A., Jones, M. D., Carretero, M. A., Serén, N., Beltran-Alvarez, P., & Wollenberg-Valero, K. C. (2024). Environmental factors influence cross-talk between a heat shock protein and an oxidative stress protein modification in the lizard Gallotia galloti. Plos One 19 (3): e0300111.
38. Rivera-Rea, J., González-Morales, J. C., Megía-Palma, R., Bastiaans, E., Quintana, E., & Manjarrez, J. (2024). Seasonal changes in male color patches and parasite load of the male lizard Sceloporus torquatus. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 78:27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-023-03425-4.
37. Megía-Palma, R., Palomar, G., Martínez, J., Antunes, B., Dudek, K., Žagar, A., Serén, N., Carretero, M. A., Babik, W., & Merino, S. (2024). Lizard host abundances and climatic factors explain phylogenetic diversity and prevalence of blood parasites in an oceanic island. Molecular Ecology 33(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17276.
36. Aguilar, P., Pérez i de Lanuza, G., Martínez-Gil, H., Dajčman, U., T. Simčič, C. Pinho, A. Žagar, & Megía-Palma, R. (2024). Color morphs of the fire salamander are discriminated at night by conspecifics and predators. Journal of Zoology 322(2): 141-155. DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13131.
35. Megía-Palma, R., Paranjpe, D., Cooper, R. D., Blaimont, P., & Sinervo, B. (2024). Natural parasites in conjunction with behavioral and color traits explain male agonistic behaviors in a lizard. Current Zoology 70(1): 59-69. DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac095.
34. Serén, N., Megía‐Palma, R., Simčič, T., Krofel, M., Guarino, F. M., Pinho, C., Žagar, A., & Carretero, M. A. (2023). Functional responses in a lizard along a 3.5‐km altitudinal gradient. Journal of Biogeography 50(12): 1993-2159. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14711.
33. Blázquez-Castro, S., Barrientos, R., & Megía-Palma, R. (2023). Unusual double erythrocyte infection by heterogeneric parasites in the lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus (Linnaeus, 1758). Herpetology Notes, 16, 669-672.
32. Megía-Palma, R., Redondo, L., Blázquez-Castro, S., & Barrientos, R. (2023). Differential recovery ability from infections by two blood parasite genera in males of a Mediterranean lacertid lizard after an experimental translocation. Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology 339(9): 799-910. DOI: 10.1002/jez.2732
31. Roca, V., Gómez-Ramírez, F., Espasandín, I., Megía-Palma, R., Perera, A., & Martínez-Freiría, F. (2023). First helminthological data on the Iberian adder, Vipera seoanei. Parasitology Research 122: 1499-1507. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07849-9
30. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Fitze, P. S., Cuervo, J. J., Belliure, J., Jiménez-Robles, O., Cabido, C., Martín, J., & Merino, S. (2023). Genetic diversity, phylogenetic position, and co-phylogenetic relationships of Karyolysus, a common blood parasite of lizards in the western Mediterranean. International Journal for Parasitology 53(4): 185-196. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.12.006
29. Van Nieker, J. H., Megía-Palma, R., & Forcina, G. (2022). Thermoregulatory function and sexual dimorphism of the throat sack in Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) across Africa. Avian Research 13(2022): 100047. DOI: 10.1016/j.avrs.2022.100047.
28. Rivera-Rea, J., González-Morales, J.C., Fajardo, V., Megía-Palma, R., Bastiaans, E., Manjarrez, & J. (2022). Phenological variation in parasite load and inflammatory response in a lizard with an asynchronous reproductive cycle. The Science of Nature 109: 34. DOI: 10.1007/s00114-022-01793-x
27. Megía-Palma, R., Merino, S., & Barrientos, R. (2022). Longitudinal effects of habitat quality, body condition, and parasites on colour patches of a multiornamented lizard. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 76, 73. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03182-w
26. Žagar, A., Simčič, T., Dajčman, U., Megía-Palma, R. (2022). Parasitemia and elevation as predictors of hemoglobin concentration and antioxidant capacity in two sympatric lizards. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 270:111233. DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111233
25. Megía-Palma, R., Barja, I., & Barrientos, R. (2022). Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and ectoparasites as biomarkers of heat stress close to roads in a Mediterranean lizard. Science of the Total Environment 802. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149919.
24. Dajčman, U., Carretero, M. A., Megía-Palma, R., Perera, A., Kostanjšek, R., & Žagar, A. (2021). Shared haemogregarine infections in competing lacertids. Parasitology 149(2): 193-202. doi:10.1017/S0031182021001645.
23. Drechsler, R. M., Belliure, J., & Megía-Palma, R. (2021). Phenological and intrinsic predictors of mite and haemacoccidian infection dynamics in a Mediterranean community of lizards. Parasitology DOI: 10.1017/S0031182021000858.
22. Megía-Palma, R., Barrientos, R., Gallardo, M., Martínez, J., & Merino, S. (2021). Brighter is darker: the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis revisited in lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab081.
21. Rutschmann, A., Dupoué, A., Miles, D., Megía-Palma, R., Lauden, C., Richard, M., Badiane, A., Rozen-Rechels, D., Brevet, M., Blaimont, P., Meylan, S., Clobert, J., & Le Galliard, J. F. (2021). Intense nocturnal warming alters growth strategies, coloration, and parasite load in a diurnal lizard. Journal of Animal Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13502.
20. Barrientos, R., & Megía-Palma, R. (2021). Associated costs of mitigation-driven translocation in small lizards. Amphibia-Reptilia DOI:10.1163/15685381-bja10040.
19. Van Niekerk, J. H., Megía-Palma, R., & Forcina, G. (2021). Call variation of Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) across Africa defies the effects of spatial gradients. Ibis: International Journal of Avian Science DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12945.
18. Megía-Palma, R., Arregui, L., Pozo, I., Zagar, A., Serén, N., Carretero, M.A., & Merino, S. (2020). Geographic patterns of stress in insular lizards reveal anthropogenic and climatic signatures. Science of the Total Environment 749: 141655.
17. Megía-Palma, R., Jiménez-Robles, O., Hernández-Agüero, J. A., & De la Riva, I. (2020). Plasticity of haemoglobin concentration and thermoregulation in a mountain lizard. Journal of Thermal Biology 92: 102656.
16. Megía-Palma, R., Paranjpe, D., Blaimont, P., Cooper, R., & Sinervo, B. (2020). To cool or not to cool? Intestinal coccidians disrupt the behavioral hypothermia of lizards in response to tick infestation. Ticks a & tick-borne diseases 11: 101275.
15. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Cuervo, J. J., Belliure, Jiménez-Robles, O., Gomes, V., Cabido, C., Pausas, J. G., Fitze, P. S., Martín, J., & Merino, S. (2018): Molecular evidence for host-parasite co-speciation between lizards and Schellackia parasites. International Journal for Parasitology 48: 709-718.
14. Megía-Palma, R., Paranjpe, D., Reguera, S., Martínez, J., Cooper, R. D., Blaimont, P., Merino, S., & Sinervo, B. (2018): Multiple color patches and parasites in Sceloporus occidentalis: Differential relationships by sex and infection. Current Zoology https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy007
13. Álvarez-Ruiz, L., Megía-Palma, R., Reguera, S., Ruiz, S., Zamora-Camacho, F. J., Figuerola, J., & Moreno-Rueda, G. (2018): Opposed elevational variation in prevalence and intensity of endoparasites and their vectors in a lizard. Current Zoology https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy002.
12. Megía-Palma, R., Jorge, A., & Reguera, S. (2018): Raman spectroscopy reveals the presence of both eumelanin and pheomelanin in the skin of lacertids. Journal of Herpetology 52(1), 67-73.
11. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., & Merino, S. (2018): Manipulation of parasite load induces significant changes in the structural-based throat color of male Iberian green lizards. Current Zoology https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zox036.
10. García-Roa, R., Megía-Palma, R., Ortega, J., Jara, M., López, P., & Martín, J. (2017): Interpopulational and seasonal variation in the chemical signals of the lizard Gallotia galloti. PeerJ 5: e3992.
9. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Paranjpe, D., D’Amico, V., Aguilar, R., Palacios, M. G., Cooper, R., Ferri-Yáñez, F., Sinervo, B., & Merino, S. (2017): Phylogenetic analyses reveal that Schellackia parasites (Apicomplexa) detected in American lizards are closely related to the genus Lankesterella: is the range of Schellackia restricted to Old World? Parasites & Vectors 10 (1): 470.
8. Rivero-de Aguilar, J., Megía-Palma, R., Badás, E. P., Martínez, J., & Merino, S. (2016): Testing a new method for reducing ectoparasite infestation in nest-boxes. Ardeola 63 (2): 383-393.
7. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., & Merino, S. (2016): Structural- and carotenoid-based throat colour patches in males of Lacerta schreiberi reflect different parasitic diseases. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 70 (12): 2017-2025.
6. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., & Merino, S. (2016): A structural colour ornament correlates positively with parasite load and body condition in an insular lizard species. The Science of Nature 103: 52.
5. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Nasri, I., Cuervo, J. J., Martín, J., Acevedo, I., Belliure, J., Ortega, J., García-Roa, R., Selmi, S., & Merino, S. (2016): Phylogenetic relationships of Isospora, Lankesterella and Caryospora species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) infecting lizards. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution 16 (1): 275-288.
4. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., Acevedo, I., Martín, J., García-Roa, R., Ortega, J., Peso-Fernández, M., Albaladejo, G., Cooper, R. D., Paranjpe, D. A., Sinervo, B. R., & Merino, S. (2015): Phylogeny of the reptilian Eimeria: are Choleoeimeria and Acroeimeria valid generic names? Zoologica Scripta 44 (6): 684-692.
3. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., & Merino, S. (2014): Molecular characterization of haemococcidian genus Schellackia (Apicomplexa) reveals the polyphyletic origin of the family Lankesterellidae. Zoologica Scripta 43 (3): 304-312.
2. Megía-Palma, R., Martínez, J., & Merino, S. (2013): Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences of Schellackia parasites (Apicomplexa: Lankesterellidae) reveals their close relationship to the genus Eimeria. Parasitology 140: 1149-1157.
1. Harvey, D. J., Gange, A. C., Hawes, C. J., Rink, M., Abdelhalden, M., Al Fulaij, N., Asp, T., Ballerio, A., Bartolozzi, L., Brustel, H., Cammaerts, R., Carpaneto, G. M., Cederberg, B., Chobot, K., Cianferoni, F., Drumont, A., Ellwanger, G., Ferreira, S., Grosso-Silva, J. M., Gueorguiev, B., Harvey, W., Hendriks, P., Istrate, P., Jansson, N., Jelaska, L. S., Jendek, E., Jovic, M., Kervyn, T., Krenn, H. W., Kretschmer, K., Legakis, A., Lelo, S., Moretti, M., Merkl, O., Megía-Palma, R., Neculianu, Z., Rabitsch, W., Merino, S., Smit, J., Smith, M., Sprecher-Uebersex, E., Telnov, D., Thomaes, A., Thomsen, P. F., Tykarski, P., Vrezev, A., Werner, S., & Zach, P. (2011): Bionomics and distribution of the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus (L) across Europe. Insect Conservation and Diversity 4: 23-38.
C) Publications without peer review process
5. Hernández-Agüero, J. A., & Megía-Palma, R. (2020): Primer registro de respuesta agresiva de Gallotia galloti hacia su imagen especular. Boletín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española 31: 31-32.
Title translation: First record of aggressive response of Gallotia galloti to its own specular image.
4. Megía-Palma, R. (2017): Lagartijas y pavos reales: 42 años de una idea que revolucionó la ecología. Naturalmente: Revista del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales 16: 19-22.
Title translation: Lizards and peacocks: 42 years of a revolutionary idea that changed the ecology.
3. Megía-Palma, R. (2016): Caracterización molecular de los parásitos que infectan lagartos y su influencia sobre los ornamentos de color. Naturalmente: Revista del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales 9: 47-48 (Summaries of theses).
Title translation: Molecular characterization of parasites that infect lizards and their influence on colour ornaments
2. Megía-Palma, R. (2012): Un caso de polidactilia en Lacerta schreiberi en el Sistema Central. Boletín de la Asociación Herpetológica Española 23 (1): 54-56.
Title translation (A12): A case of polydactyli in Lacerta schreiberi in the Central System.
1. del Cerro, S., Megía, R., Rivero de Aguilar, J., Martínez de la Puente, J., Merino, S. (2010): Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente y la teoría de la evolución por selección natural. eVolución 5 (1): 21-24.
Title translation (A14): Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente and the theory of evolution by natural selection.
