The Moroccan reptilian fauna, which dates back to the Tertiary era, has undergone many modifications caused by climatic and topographical changes of the continents. The hypothesis of a separation between Europe and Africa in the Miocene has been raised (Bons, 1973). Many wildlife exchanges across the Strait of Gibraltar between the two continents have taken place. Other contributions from the Orient have enriched the Moroccan fauna.
It is from the end of the Tertiary that the reptilian fauna of the Iberian-African axis begins to render the current state by:
- the arrival of northern species, following glaciations;
- the southward retreat of tropical species;
- the subsequent extension of elements of the Ethiopian fauna.
Our reptilian fauna is the result of numerous vertical and horizontal changes and migrations which have allowed the establishment of diverse populations. These exchanges were added to other local factors which came to mark a fauna considered as the richest and the most varied of all the countries of North Africa.
The importance of this fauna has aroused the interest of many researchers who have built up specialized literature and reference collections (collections of the National Museum of Natural History in Rabat, Museum of Natural History in Paris, British Museum, etc. ).
If almost all of our herpetofauna is known, there are still some gaps in the case of certain species (inaccessibility of their biotope, very discreet animals, etc.).
National herpetofauna
Since the publication of the lists developed by Bons (1972) and Mellado and Dakki (1988), systematic reviews, the discovery of new species and changes in the distribution area of several taxa have continued to modify the list of Amphibians. and Reptiles du Ma roc. The list presented here, the most exhaustive to date, lists 103 species.
Amphibians
The Amphibians, a pivotal group between the aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates, are the first group to have conquered the mainland. However, their life remains divided between aquatic and terrestrial environments. Most of Morocco's amphibians spend most of their lives in water and are excellent biological indicators of water and air pollution.
The Class of Amphibians is represented in Morocco by 11 species (out of 4016 species in the world) belonging to two orders: the Urodeles with two species and the Anurans with 9 species (Table). The third order, the Apodes (or Gymnophiones), are not represented in Morocco.
For more details, please consult the document: l'Etude Nationale de la Biodiversité Amphibiens et Reptiles, 1998.
An update of the study is underway towards the end of 2021.