{"id":7326,"date":"2023-05-07T20:47:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-07T20:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/?page_id=7326"},"modified":"2023-05-26T16:16:49","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T16:16:49","slug":"northern-morocco-tour","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/en\/northern-morocco-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Morocco Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

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28 April – 2 May 2023<\/p>\n

By Gabri Mart\u00ednez<\/p>\n

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When I was a kid I visited many places in Spain, England, France, Canada… and all was similar to my home so the greatest impact in my life was in October 2007 when I visited Morocco for first time with Luis G-C and JAMB. We crossed in ferry to the port of Tangier city and when we arrived all was a mess. Donkeys, very old cars, bicycles and lots of people everywhere. Every place we stop for herping we saw lots of animals because the habitats were amazingly conserved. That was my first trip to Africa, and that changed my life, my mind and everything.<\/p>\n

I got some holidays and bought very cheap flights Malaga-Tangier. This was my 27 trip to Morocco and indeed my saddest trip. My top 3 for the trip was Vipera monticola saintgironsi<\/em>, a big specimen of Natrix astreptophora<\/em> of uniform green color and Psammodromus microdactylus<\/em>. I didn\u00b4t get any of my targets. But that was not the main reason. At the end of this report I will explain why this was my saddest trip ever.<\/p>\n

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Main prospected places: 1. Middle Atlas, 2. Azilal Province, 3. Western Rif Mountains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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28 April 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

The flight arrived very late to Tangier. I picked up my car from AVIS and drove directly to the Middle Atlas. I made a fast stop in La Mamora forest, and everything was extremely dry. Very late in the night I stopped the car for sleeping few hours<\/p>\n

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That lagoon had water even some years in August, and you could see Pleurodeles, Discoglossus and other amphibians recently metamorphosed. Now as the photo shows, it was absolutely dry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The only animals I saw in many kms: dead and alive Sclerophrys mauritanica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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29 April 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

I woke up and drove directly to a Middle Atlas spot where it was found an adult female Vipera monticola saintgironsi<\/em> (then published as Vipera latastei gaditana<\/em>). It was my third visit to the area after visiting it with Budi and Marco (August 2013) and with Raul, Ander, Rafa and Ana (April 2017).<\/p>\n

The area was very dry to be an area up to 2200 masl. The stream that had water in the previous trips was dry. In the moment the sun hit the ground began to appear the first lizards, very close to spiny bushes: Psammodromus algirus<\/em> in the south slope and Podarcis vaucheri<\/em> and Scelarcis perspicillata<\/em> in the north slope. The clouds appeared and dissapeared and the temperature of aprox. 18 degrees showed a perfect moment for snakes and few minutes later I saw for first time in my life a Coronella girondica<\/em> basking. I took some fast photos and continued the search. After 2 hours the temperature became very hot and over 4 groups of goats appeared everywhere, so I decided to flip some stones and I got to see a nice Timon tangitanus<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Habitat – Southern slope where sun hit very early<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Phoenicurus moussieri, the nicest bird in North Africa?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Podarcis basking inside a bush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Scelarcis in situ, with the eyes closed in a cloudy moment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The habitat where Vipera monticola saintgironsi was found in May 2006<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Coronella girondica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Tick in the head of Coronella girondica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Typical habitat of the Middle Atlas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Podarcis vaucheri<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Scelarcis perspicillata<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Timon tangitanus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Timon tangitanus close-up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mountain habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A pair of Tadorna ferruginea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After eating I visited another spot. There weren\u00b4t previous records of Vipera<\/em> there but from Google it looked a good place. It was the north slope of a rocky mountain, covered by snow lots of months of the year so all was very green. Walking a bit at midday I found some lizards active (Podarcis vaucheri, Timon tangitanus<\/em>). A shepherd came to me and ask what I was doing. I showed him a photo of a Vipera latastei<\/em> and Vipera monticola<\/em> and he told me that he had never seen these snakes, and he showed with the open arms like a huge snake. I showed him a photo of Malpolon monspessulanus<\/em> and he clearly agreed that was the snake in the area. It was a place at 2117masl, north slope and with high humidity so I though he was wrong. Finally we said bye bye one to each other. When I was in the car preparing to visit another spot the shepherd came to me and said by signs to join him. I expected he would show me a shed or a hole, but he kept me to a ruins where I could see a part of a huge snake basking. The shepherd got a small stone (I am sure he wanted to throw it to the snake) but then I jumped to the snake and caught it. The brave Malpolon monspessulanus<\/em> or aprox. 1.80cm began to make “puffy” noises so the shepherd was very nervous and making me signs to cut the head of the snake. I told him to make photos and he was looking to me and the snake with total fascination. After the photos I offered him to touch it but he was completely scared although by signs I explained him the snake was not a hazard to him or his goats. When I was going to release the snake he began to shouted me very aggressive. So I told him that didn\u00b4t worry I would keep the snake and release it very far.\u00a0 So I said bye bye and take the car and some meters away I released the snake. Probably that huge snake will return to his refuge and the shepherds will kill it. But I thought it was the best. Move that snake to another territory it is a crazy idea with unexpected consequences…<\/p>\n

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Corvus ruficollis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Amazing landscape where I could see Podarcis vaucheri, Timon tangitanus and Malpolon monspessulanus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Spectacular 1.80cm male of Malpolon monspessulanus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Malpolon close-up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After that strange experience I stopped to a lagoon where I saw some terrapins, frogs and a very nice Viperine Snake. In the way I found a DOR adult female Malpolon monpessulanus<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Fulica cristata<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Gallinula chloropus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mauremys leprosa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Very green Pelophylax saharicus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Couple of Mauremys leprosa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Another Pelophylax saharicus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A very beautiful Natrix maura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hypnotic eyes of Natrix maura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

30 April 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

I woke up early in a hotel close to the mountains (85DH the night!!) and drove to the known Vipera<\/em> spot for a last chance. In two hours with good temperature, I only got to see again some birds, Podarcis vaucheri<\/em> and Scelarcis perspicillata, <\/em>so I decided to begin to drive to the second spot of the trip: AZILAL.<\/p>\n

Between the Middle Atlas to Azilal there is about 4-5 hours of driving, and I didn\u00b4t find any reptile dead on road. In a fast stop I flipped a stone and found a subadult Agama bibronii.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Mouolouya Valley has some extremely arid landscapes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Azilal area is full of agriculture fields, but there are still some patches of natural vegetation (e.g. Chamaerops humilis<\/em>) that seems to be probably the last or one of the last refugees of the extremely endangered Psammodromus microdactylus<\/em>. In the evening it was very sunny but windy and I didn\u00b4t find any reptile species active. The night began and I made a bit of road crossing around the area, that seems apparently good for Daboia mauritanica, Macroprotodon brevis, Hemorrhois hippocrepis<\/em>… however I didn\u00b4t find any amphibian or reptile active so finally I began to sleep.<\/p>\n

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Pool to retain water for the cuttle. It was completely dry, and without amphibians or reptiles inside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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1 May 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the first moments of sun of the day I began to check the Chamaerops humilis <\/em>in the spot where my friend Mario Schweiger found one specimen of P. microdactylus<\/em> in 2010. Unfortunately, no activity of lizards although the temperature was good and there were no sun. Even no Psammodromus algirus<\/em> or any Acanthodactylus<\/em> species in the area active.\u00a0 I flipped some stones and found a huge male Eumeces algeriensis<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Psammodromus microdactylus habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Eumeces algeriensis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Eumeces algeriensis detail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Group of small palm trees burned<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The temperature was getting warmer and I moved to the In Den Bosch spot. Lots of small palm trees and groups of rocks looks amazing for lizards but I didn\u00b4t see reptile species active and then I saw a domestic cat jumping out of a big rocky crest. I walked to the place where the cat jumped out and found a big black snake entering in a hole. I examined that large Hemorrhois hippocrepis<\/em> and it was brave and healthy except for a damage in the first part of the body, probably caused by the cat. I took some photos and left the snake in the exactly place where it was. When I returned to my car that was close to some houses I saw two baby cats, one with same colors of the one that probably attacked the snake. I wonder if the cat attack that snake, what it would do with the small Psammodromus<\/em>?<\/p>\n

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The cat that maybe would have killed the big black Hemorrhois hippocrepis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hemorrhois hippocrepis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Fresh damage in the snake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Extremely beautifil colours in this specimen. The Magreb Boiga dendrophila!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally I visited a third place that looks good for lacertids, but only saw an Agama<\/em> active, so I decided to leave Azilal and drive for the last spot: the western Rif Mountains.<\/p>\n

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Purple plant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Jump Spider<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fastest way to reach the Riff Mts was the highway so I drove from Azilal to Marrakech. In the way I could see some Tarentola mauritanica<\/em> and Agama bibronii<\/em> when I had the bad to luck to see a Testudo graeca<\/em> recently hit by cars. The poor animal looks extremely bad and I put out of the road, fortunately it was already dead. 5 minutes later I saw a chameleon in the middle of that busy road. I stopped the car and ran like if there is no tomorrow and got to catch alive that poor animal with cars and motorcycles passing in both sides. It was a miracle that was alive. I left it in the side where it was crossing to and continue the trip. In the Marrakech area I saw some Agama bibronii<\/em> basking in the top of rock groups.<\/p>\n

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Tarentola mauritanica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Agama bibronii, adult male<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Testudo graeca just hit by a car<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Chamaeleo chamaeleon saved from a sure killed in the road<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Very deep hole in the middle of nowhere. Can\u00b4t understand why Morocco don\u00b4t close these dangerous things for animals but even for people<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Another nice male Agama bibronii<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The highway Marrakech to Tangier is really well done and the trip was easy. In the evening I arrived to the exit direction to the Riff and I got to reach the Riff and find fast first herp species: an adult Mauremys leprosa,<\/em> 2 Podarcis vaucheri<\/em> and a Salamandra algira<\/em> larvae.<\/p>\n

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Now is not necessary to enter in the Rabat city to go from Marrakech to Tangier so all is easier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The area around Tanger is covered by agriculture fields<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Ciconia group eating in the evening<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Google Maps sent me for this road that ends in a lagoon. The Rif always has complications<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Small pit with Mauremys leprosa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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A shell of Testudo graeca in the pit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Salamandra algira sp. larvae<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Pair of Podarcis vaucheri trapped<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The western Rif mountains was much more humid than the Middle Atlas or Azilal and in some water courses I got to see plenty of amphibians: Salamandra algira<\/em> juveniles, Pelophylax saharicus, Bufo spinosus<\/em>, Sclerophrys mauritanica<\/em>, Hyla meridionalis<\/em> and also 2 reptile species: 4 Natrix maura<\/em> and a Chalcides colosii<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Bufo spinosus, adult female<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Salamandra algira sp. juvenile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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More than 30 juvenile Salamandra algira sp. were around the water courses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Juvenile Natrix maura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Pelophylax saharicus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Chalcides colosii<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sclerophrys mauritanica calling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nice Natrix maura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Very yellow Sclerophrys mauritanica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Natrix maura in situ ambushing in one of the very numerous hoses that take water from the habitat to the agriculture fields<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bufo spinosus, male<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2 May 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

I woke up in an amphibians paradise.<\/p>\n

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Amazing habitat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Emys orbicularis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Macaca sylvanus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Amazing male Psammodromus algirus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Male Podarcis vaucheri<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Stream with a bit of water<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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In situ series of photos of a couple of Psammodromus algirus. Male with red head<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Humid slope where I could see 2 juvenile Natrix astreptophora.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Amazing to find an adult Salamandra algira sp. under a trunk in May<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Walking in the habitat I heard a noise in the leaves. A constant sound that disappeared. Maybe a Natrix, maybe a Coronella, probably a Vipera monticola saintgironsi. I will have to return to confirm it<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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I had to return to the airport and I passed by many places that I knew by Google Earth that were burned. A huge area of the Western Riff Mts., including the place where I saw my first Natrix astreptophora<\/em> of Morocco, has been destroyed. Big forests full of endemic species disappeared. I made a fast stop in a group of rocks in a burned area and surprisingly I was a big Malpolon monpessulanus<\/em> basking. There were no bushes or trees or nothing because all was burned so I could see the snake very easily.<\/p>\n

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No signals of the Emys that used to live in this lagoon when it was surrounded by a well conserved forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Adult Malpolon leaving in a burned forest. I only got to see this species in not very covered forests so probably Malpolon and Hemorrhois “are benefited” by fires<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sadly the specimen was shedding, so the colours are not easily appreciated<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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It seems this signal had not a strong impact…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Every trip to Morocco there are new and bigger roads and trails<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally I arrived to the airport and returned to M\u00e1laga. The trip in number of species was not bad and I enjoyed again of numerous amazing species of Morocco. However these animals don\u00b4t avoid that I got a really bad impression of Morocco. South of the High Atlas the problems for the herpetofauna are numerous, but nothing in compare with north Morocco. New roads and trails are building constantly. New roads allow new people settlements that mean even in natural parks or natural habitats in general more goats, more cats, more hoses extracting the water of the habitats to agriculture fields. The Global Warming and the extraction of the water in the habitats are probably provinking more and more fires that destroy the habitats and allow the expansion of species like Malpolon monspessulanus, Hemorrhois hippocrepis<\/em> or Agama impalearis<\/em> and the extintion of many populations of Vipera monticola, Natrix astreptophora, Emys orbicularis, Alytes maurus<\/em>… that will become very endangered soon, following the way of Chalcides ebneri<\/em> or Psammodromus microdactylus<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The solutions for these problems don\u00b4t seem easy and sadly Morocco is not the Morocco of 15 years ago, and I am scary about the Morocco we will see in 15 years.\u00a0 Or they put a limit to the habitat destruction or they will be even worse than Europe very soon…<\/p>\n

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Ackowledgements<\/strong><\/p>\n

Specially thanks to Mario Schweiger for the info about P. microdactylus<\/em>. Also to Marco Sassoe, Sonke Frahm, Alex Carreras, Ander Izagirre and Abdellah Bouazza for help during and after the trip.<\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n