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Atlas of the herpetofauna of Batna Province and the Belezma Biosphere Reserve, north-eastern Algeria

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  • Idriss Bouam,
  • Ahmed Abdennebi,
  • Larbi Tahar Chaouch,
  • Toufik Lemoufek,
  • Elalmi Benmokhtar,
  • Tahar Mebarki,
  • Lazhar Moulahcene,
  • Amar Kherchouche,
  • Tarek Messaoudi
Idriss Bouam
University of Batna 2
Ahmed Abdennebi
Conservation des Forêts de la Wilaya de Batna
Larbi Tahar Chaouch
Ibn Khaldoun University of Tiaret
Toufik Lemoufek
Algerian Wildlife Watchers Association
Elalmi Benmokhtar
Algerian Wildlife Watchers Association
Tahar Mebarki
District des Forêts de Seggana
Lazhar Moulahcene
Algerian Wildlife Watchers Association
Amar Kherchouche
Circonscription des Forêts d’Aïn Touta
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-17427

Published 2025-08-06

Keywords

  • Amphibia,
  • Reptilia,
  • diversity,
  • conservation,
  • biogeography,
  • North Africa
    • ...More
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How to Cite

Bouam, I., Abdennebi, A., Tahar Chaouch, L., Lemoufek, T., Benmokhtar, E., Mebarki, T., Moulahcene, L., Kherchouche, A., & Messaoudi, T. (2025). Atlas of the herpetofauna of Batna Province and the Belezma Biosphere Reserve, north-eastern Algeria. Acta Herpetologica. https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-17427

Copyright (c) 2025 Idriss Bouam, Ahmed Abdennebi, Larbi Tahar Chaouch, Toufik Lemoufek, Elalmi Benmokhtar, Tahar Mebarki, Lazhar Moulahcene, Amar Kherchouche, Tarek Messaoudi

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Algeria, the largest country in Africa, exhibits significant gaps in knowledge regarding species' geographical distributions, particularly for herpetofauna. This deficiency is attributed in part to the country's vast geographical expanse, limited local engagement in herpetological research, and persistent underfunding for biodiversity studies. This study presents the first comprehensive atlas of the herpetofauna of Batna Province, northeastern Algeria, including the Belezma Biosphere Reserve, marking a critical step toward developing a national herpetofaunal atlas. Based on 12 years of field surveys and a critical review of historical records spanning nearly 150 years, we document 47 species (4 amphibians and 43 reptiles), including seven new provincial records and five species not reported in Batna for over 130 years. Our findings indicate that Batna harbours over two-fifths of Algeria's known herpetofaunal diversity, highlighting its significance as a biodiversity hotspot. This study also provides Arabic common names for the recorded species to enhance public engagement while offering insights into species richness distribution patterns, conservation, and biogeography. We believe this atlas addresses critical knowledge gaps and will contribute to more accurate biodiversity assessments while informing effective conservation planning in Algeria and the Mediterranean region.

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