Extension of the Known Distribution of Non-Volant, Terrestrial Mammals in Northern Morocco

Knowing the distribution of species is a key element to better understand their ecological requirements and devise appropriate conservation or management plans. Between March 2016 and December 2022, eight expeditions were carried out in northern Morocco, specifically in the Western Rif and the Eastern Rif regions. The objectives of these expeditions were a) to extend the known areas of distribution of the mammal species cited as currently present in the study areas; b) to determine the potential presence of other species that had not been reported for at least two decades; c) to replicate two of the key zoological expeditions carried out by Ángel Cabrera in 1919 and 1921. These involved a total of 91 effective sampling days with an average of nine researchers per expedition, yielding a total sampling time of 819 person-days. The sampling methods implemented during fieldwork included camera-trapping, diurnal and nocturnal transects, interviews, cage-trapping and opportunistic sampling. The main results are the extension of the distribution range of 20 mammalian species in a total of 97 grid cells of 0.25° longitude by 0.25° latitude (geographical coordinates), together with information on their habitat preferences. In addition, five records of five species not detected in the area since 1980 are included. All mammalian orders are represented in proportions similar to those observed in the rest of Morocco, suggesting that the sampling techniques used in our surveys are not biased toward specific taxa. Our results highlight that the current knowledge of the distribution of numerous Moroccan mammals is clearly insufficient. The absence of this key information significantly reduces the relevance of management decisions that can improve conservation by managers and researchers.