The amphibian fauna of the Kingdom of Morocco was traditionally regarded as poor and closely related to its European counterpart. However, an increase in research during the last decades revealed a considerable degree of endemism amongst Moroccan amphibians, as well as phenotypic and genotypic inter- and intraspecific divergence. Despite this increase in knowledge, a comprehensible overview is lacking while several systematic issues have remained unresolved. We herein present a contemporary overview of the distribution, taxonomy and biogeography of Moroccan amphibians. Fourteen fieldtrips were made by the authors and colleagues between 2000 and 2012, which produced a total of 292 new distribution records. Furthermore, based on the results of the present work, we (i) review the systematics of the genus Salamandra in Morocco, including the description of a new subspecies from the Rif- and Middle Atlas Mountains, Salamandra algira splendens ssp. nov.; (ii) present data on intraspecific morphological variability of Pelobates varaldiiand Pleurodeles waltl in Morocco; (iii) attempt to resolve the phylogenetic position of Bufo brongersmai and erect a new genus for this species, Barbarophryne gen. nov.; (iv) summarize and assess the availability of tadpole-specific characteristics and bioacoustical data, and (v) summarize natural history data.

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One common approach to assigning conservation priorities during the current biodiversity crisis is to identify and direct efforts to high profile, vulnerable taxa, and important biodiversity areas. We addressed the first issue by assessing the comparison between conservation status and habitat suitability under differing climate change scenarios for sixteen species of five amphibian families (Pelobatidae, Bufonidae, Alytidae, Hylidae and Ranidae) distributed on both sides of the Gibraltar Strait, with the aim of verify whether potentially sensible species under climatic change scenarios are or not considered at risk presently in the IUCN current categories. We have addressed this with an environmental niche modelling algorithm (MaxEnt) and projecting the outputs in four future climatic change scenarios. Our results demonstrate that climatic niches of some species may currently match their conservation category, with Pelobates varaldii having the narrowest distribution and being the more endangered species, but not all responses to predicted climatic change scenarios are related to conservation status. Some suggest notable changes in potential climatic habitats, with both substantial increase (7 species) and decrease (5 species) represented. Threatened species such as P. varaldii could be climatically favored whereas currently more abundant species could maintain, increase, or reduce their habitat distribution. These results have implications for current conservation strategies, and suggest that this approach deserves consideration as part of any species or habitat conservation strategy in the future.

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In this study, we report, through molecular identification, the first African records of a digenean trematode parasite of the genus Euryhelmis. We recovered metacercariae encysted in an anuran, the endemic Moroccan painted frog (Discoglossus scovazzi), and a vulnerable caudate, the North African fire salamander (Salamandra algira), from four localities in North Africa (Morocco). Our records go back to the past century and have been confirmed in successive fieldwork seasons thereafter. Metacercarial stages of these parasites require amphibians as the last intermediate host, but the exact identity of the primary hosts and predators of the infected animals in Africa remain unknown. Our searches with basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) from Genbank revealed that hosts were infected by parasites of Euryhelmis costaricensis, which showed almost the same genetic identity (with only one substitution) to previous reports from Costa Rica and Japan, suggesting a recent introduction in Morocco. We proceed to discuss the likely role of introduced mustelids as the potential definitive hosts of trematode adults. Under this assumption, we conclude that the infestation of Discoglossus scovazzi and Salamandra algira might pose a risk to these threatened species.