title: Review of the systematics, distribution, biogeography and natural history of Moroccan amphibians.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra Rui Nabeiro, Universidade de Évora, Casa Cordovil, Rua Dr. Joaquim Henrique da Fonseca, 7000-890 Évora, Portugal.  wouter.beukema@gmail.com
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beukema
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Pous
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donaire-Barroso
authors.forename: Sergé
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boaerts
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Porta
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Escoriza
authors.forename: Oscar J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Arribas
authors.forename: El Hassan
authors.initials: el H
authors.lastname: El Mouden
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carranza
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D058974:Phylogeography; D012454:Salamandra / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal