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The concept of genetic variation is a vital factor to investigate the effect of evolutionary process on genus Gloydius��? populations.
Having a vast distribution in many parts of Asia, genus Gloydius (Serpentes: Crotalinae) is from the venomous group of snakes,
and consists of thirteen species. Caucasian Pitviper (Gloydius halys) is scattered from Northwest to Northeast Iran in wide variety
of terrestrial and mountainous, forestal and bush-lands habitats. This study aims to analyze biodiversity, genetic variation and
genetic structure among the Caucasian Pitviper populations in Alborz habitats. For this purpose, 18 individuals representing two
populations (northern and northeastern Alborz) were captured, and, some ventral scale specimens were collected. Polymorphism
of a mitochondrial gene Cytb, was investigated in these samples. For this purpose, using PCR, a segment of this gene with 1067 base
pair length was amplified and the amplified sequence was then subjected to sequencing. The genealogy analysis was conducted to
determine the best evolutionary model using Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches. Our results revealed that the Alborz
populations were separated by 0.99 and 95.34 posterior probability and bootstrap values, respectively. Besides, 13 unique haplotypes
out of 18 sequenced individuals (7 from northern and 6 from northeastern population), were analyzed and consequently a considerable
distinction was detected between north and northeastern population haplotypes by 17 mutational steps. Also, a significantly high
genetic variation (Fst>0.25, p<0.01) was found between populations in the north and northeast Alborz through the Analysis of
Molecular Variance (AMOVA). On the other hand, using neutrality tests, the incidence of spontaneous expansion was determined in
north and northeast populations. As a conclusion, we believe that the genetic distance between these two populations is due to their
local adaptability. Hence, they can be considered as two distinct conservational units in terms of biodiversity conservational plans.