A new subspecies of African fire salamander Salamandra algira (Urodela, Salamandridae) from the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco

A new subspecies within the species complex from north-western Africa is described. Previous molecular analysis showed that the populations of from north-western Morocco consisted of two well supported clades: clade 1 distributed in the Rif Mountains, from Chefchaouen (type locality) to Al Hoceima,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ZooKeys 2019-12, Vol.893 (2), p.143-158
Main Authors: Hernandez, Axel, Escoriza, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa
Amphibians
Biogeography
Caudata
Cenozoic
Endangered species
Genetics
Salamandridae
Wildlife conservation
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Description
Summary:A new subspecies within the species complex from north-western Africa is described. Previous molecular analysis showed that the populations of from north-western Morocco consisted of two well supported clades: clade 1 distributed in the Rif Mountains, from Chefchaouen (type locality) to Al Hoceima, and clade 2, located southern from clade 1 being isolated in the northern and central Middle Atlas Mountains. Clade 2 is herein described as a distinct subspecies: based on morphological data, allopatric range and molecular divergence. This new subspecies shows an uncorrected pairwise distance of 0.0265 from clade 1 based on cytochrome b DNA sequences. is a slender and large sized salamander with a highly variable colouration pattern. It can be distinguished from by the greater proportion of coral red in the background colouration, being the only known subspecies of in which coral red can exceed the proportion of black. Variable number (0-5) of yellow to golden yellow dorsal blotches, but usually in lower numbers than the nominotypical subspecies. inhabits subhumid to humid forests and karstic systems at mid to high elevations. We briefly discuss the phylogenetic and taxonomic issues among the genus which encompasses more valid species than currently recognised.
ISSN:1313-2989
1313-2970
DOI:10.3897/zookeys.893.46649