Ethnozoology among the Berbers: pre-Islamic practices survive in the Rif (northwestern Africa).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ethnozoological knowledge is less documented than ethnobotanical. With this field study, we aim to record and analyze the Riffian Berber knowledge about the use of animals in traditional human and veterinary medicine. Our research question is what is their knowledge of ethnozoological practices?

Methods

We performed semi-structured interviews with local inhabitants in Riffian vernacular language. The reliability of the sampling effort was assessed by a rarefaction curve. Data were compared with previous studies in order to determine the geographical and historical extensions of described uses and possible conservation implications for the species used.

Results

We obtained information regarding 107 ethnozoological uses based on 197 use reports. Among the 31

SUBMITTER: Budjaj A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8278736 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature