New Distributional Records of the Endemic Moroccan Blenny Salariopsis Atlantica (Doadrio, Perea & Yahyaoui, 2011)

Within Northern Africa, Morocco is distinguished by its remarkable diversity of freshwater fish species. This diversity is characterised by a high level of endemism, which is largely due to the country’s unique geographical location and the complexity of its hydrographic network. Salariopsis atlantica (Doadrio, Perea & Yahyaoui, 2011) is an endangered (EN) Moroccan endemic species, historically confined to the Sebou Basin, where it is known from only a few locations. This study reports new populations of the Moroccan blenny further upstream on the Ouargha River, notably at Ghdir Hamma, as well as downstream from Asfalou Reservoir. This expands the species’ known range, which is a key to promoting its conservation. These newly discovered populations are reported from habitats heavily impacted by increasing anthropogenic pressures and invasive alien species. This highlights the need for targeted conservation strategies integrating local threat management, habitat restoration, and exotic species control to ensure the sustainability of this rare species.