A new subspecies of African fire salamander (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, 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.