This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in wild Testudo graeca tortoises in Morocco. A total of 102 tortoises sampled in two arid areas: Central Jbilets Mountains (CJM) and Sidi Kaouki Forest (SKF) were macroscopically examined and subjected to qualitative (flotation and Baermann techniques) and quantitative (McMaster technique) microscopic examinations. The identified gastrointestinal parasites belong to two nematode families (Pharyngodonidae and Ascarididae) and three protozoa families (Balantidiidae, Eimeriidae and Entamoebidae). 92.1% of tortoises were determined to harbor one or more parasite types. Oxyurid adults were the most frequently encountered with a prevalence of 22.7% and 72.4% in CJM and SKF, respectively. Nematode eggs were found in almost all individuals of both populations studied. The prevalence of protozoa was 9.1% and 3.4% in CJM and SKF, respectively. Oxyurid adults showed the highest intensity in SKF (36.5 ± 30.2) whereas, ascarid adults are absent in CJM. Statistical analysis showed that the prevalence of infection by ascarids was significantly higher in adults than in juveniles. The intensity of infection by ascarid and oxyurid eggs differed significantly between sexes and localities, respectively. Our results showed a difference of infection between the two localities, which could be in relation with habitat quality. SKF is affected by both agriculture and overgrazing. In addition, the tortoises from this locality are active for a large part of the year, which increases their chance of encountering the parasites.

Gut passage time (GPT), a key factor in digestive procedure, is of pivotal importance for digestion. Several parameters may affect GPT, such as temperature, length of gastrointestinal tract and body size. Here, we examine the influence of prey weight and prey species on GPT in the endemic diurnal gecko Quedenfeldtia moerens, from the Anti-Atlas Mountains in central Morocco. We used two prey species, house crickets (Acheta domesticus, AD) and mealworms (Tenebrio molitor, TM). Lizards were fed with the larval stage of TM and nymphs of AD. The influence of prey weight and prey species was tested at a constant temperature. We used three weight classes of each prey species to test the influence of prey weight on GPT. Our results showed that prey species affected GPT in a distinct way: mealworms induced a longer gut passage time compared to house crickets. Moreover, GPT increased with the increasing weight of prey for both prey species. Our finding demonstrates that the effect of prey species and prey weight affect digestion and thus should be better clarified in future studies.

Summary Molecular tools can be used to estimate the phylogeny of species and to identify cryptic diversity, but their use for parasites has lagged behind that of free-ranging organisms. As an example, in North Africa there is minimal molecular data available for helminth parasites of lizards. In this work we used two molecular markers (the nuclear 18S rRNA and the mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit 1) to investigate the diversity of nematodes of the family Pharyngodonidae parasitizing three genera of lizards from Morocco (Chalcides, Quedenfeldtia and Tarentola) and to explore their co-evolutionary history. Morphological assessments indicated that members of three genera were present: Spauligodon, Thelandros, and Parapharyngodon. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA sequences indicated the monophyly of the genus Spauligodon, and that some lineages could be distinguished, including Spauligodon auziensis from the host species Tarentola mauritanica, and another unnamed lineage from hosts of the genus Chalcides. However, with this slow-evolving marker some species could not be distinguished. The genus Thelandros was not monophyletic, although relationships were not strongly supported. Analysis of the faster evolving mitochondrial marker clearly separated various species of Spauligodon, as well as distinct unnamed lineages identified in the host genus Chalcides and the host Quedenfeldtia moerens.

Spatial and trophic resource partitioning among seven sympatric insectivorous lizard species was investigated in arid area in the central Jbilet mountains (Western Morocco) during spring 1995. Two foraging guilds are apparent : a specialist sit-and-wait (Agama impalearis, Tarentola mauritanica et Saurodaclylus brosseti) and a generalist one (Eumeces algeriensis, Chalcides polylepis, Acanthodaclylus erythrurus and Mesalina simoni). The studied lizard species differentiate from each other in substrate use relatively to their respective adaptive morphological traits. A impalearis and T. mauritanica occur mainly in rocky areas, K algeriensis and M. simoni appear mostly on rocky and pebbly-bare ground substrates, A. erythrurus and C. polylepis are found on sandy-pebbly substrates while S. brosseti occurs in pebbly soils. By contrast, there were large overlaps in the taxonomic composition of their diets which are numerically dominated by Formicidae, Isoptera, Coleoptera and Araneidae with different proportions according to lizard species. However, important prey-size differences between species allowed to reduce trophic overlap. A selectivity analysis of lizard diet revealed patterns of prey selection based on criteria inherent either to predator (foraging behaviour, morphological constraints) or prey (size, abundance and activity). Results suggest that spatial and trophic segregation along with taxonomic divergence make possible the coexistence of these lizard species.

A population study of Agama impaleari was conducted during two consecutive years (1993-1994) in a Jujube bush site located in an arid area at the Jbilet Mountains (Western Morocco). Lizards of both sexes required approximatively one year to reach sexual maturity. One to two clutches were produced per breeding season (May-August) and clutch size was significantly correlated with maternal body size. The annual reproductive output was in average of 20 eggs per female per year and did not exhibit a significant difference between the two years of study. Population size showed important seasonal changes throughout the study period and absolute spring density estimates were of 15 and 11 ind/ha, respectively in 1993 and 1994. In the post-reproductive period (September) the population density (excluding hatchlings) markedly declined and was only of 4-5 ind/ha. After the completion of hatching period (July to early November), the densities of hatchlings were 11 and 13 ind/ha respectively in 1993 and 1994 compensing for the population losses. The annual turnover rate of the population did not exhibit a significant yearly change and was of 77 %. Adult survivorship after the reproductive activity varied between years and juvenile survival during the first year was estimated to be 35 %. Maximum longevity assessed by means of squelettochro-nology was 5 years.