The genus Sonchus (Asteraceae) comprises 98 species, including 17 predominantly herbaceous taxa native to the Mediterranean region. These plants have long been utilized as traditional wild food sources due to their high nutritional value, as they are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, essential minerals, and bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the taxonomy, geographic distribution, phytochemical composition, traditional uses, historical significance, and pharmacological properties of Sonchus species. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies from 1980 to 2024. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and methodological quality was assessed using standardized tools. A bibliometric analysis of 440 publications (from 1856 to 2025) reveals evolving research trends, with S. oleraceus, S. arvensis, and S. asper being the most extensively studied species. The review provides detailed taxonomic insights into 17 species and 14 subspecies, emphasizing their ecological adaptations and biogeographical patterns. Additionally, it highlights the cultural and medicinal relevance of Sonchus since antiquity while underscoring the threats posed by environmental degradation and changing dietary habits. Sonchus oleraceus and S. tenerrimus dominate the culinary applications of the genus, likely due to favorable taste, wide accessibility, and longstanding cultural importance. The comprehensive nutritional profile of Sonchus species positions these plants as valuable contributors to dietary diversity and food security. Finally, the study identifies current knowledge gaps and proposes future research directions to support the conservation and sustainable utilization of Sonchus species.

El progresivo aumento del turismo de aventura en el entorno de las dunas de Erg Chebbi, amenaza, desde hace casi dos décadas, la conservación del único complejo dunar (Erg) de todo Marruecos. Con el propósito de valorar algunos de los efectos de esta actividad sobre la comunidad de mamíferos locales, entre marzo y abril de 2018 se llevó a cabo un muestreo intensivo utilizando 5 métodos de detección distintos. El objeto principal era evaluar la presencia y distribución actual de las especies de mamíferos presentes, teniendo como referencia las citadas en la zona desde 1900 (Aulagnier et al., 2017). De las 16 especies históricamente citadas, 9 han sido detectadas en el presente trabajo, lo que representa un 56.2%. Resulta de interés la ausencia total de datos sobre 5 de las especies potencialmente más abundantes como son: Gerbillus amoenus (de Winton, 1902), Gerbillus gerbillus Olivier, 1801, Gerbillus tarabuli (Thomas, 1902), Pachyuromis duprasi Lataste, 1880 y Psammomys obesus Cretzschmar, 1828. Algunos datos apuntan a la drástica reducción de los recursos hídricos experimentada en los últimos años, como una de las causas de la aparente reducción de sus poblaciones. Al mismo tiempo, otras especies de requerimiento hídricos menores, tales como: Meriones libycus Lichtenstein, 1823 o Jaculus jaculus Linnaeus, 1758, presentan un aparente buen estado de conservación. Se confirma la presencia de Poecilictis libyca Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833, tras 32 años de ausencia de datos.

Knowing the distribution of species is a key element to better understand their ecological requirements and devise appropriate conservation or management plans. Between March 2016 and December 2022, eight expeditions were carried out in northern Morocco, specifically in the Western Rif and the Eastern Rif regions. The objectives of these expeditions were a) to extend the known areas of distribution of the mammal species cited as currently present in the study areas; b) to determine the potential presence of other species that had not been reported for at least two decades; c) to replicate two of the key zoological expeditions carried out by Ángel Cabrera in 1919 and 1921. These involved a total of 91 effective sampling days with an average of nine researchers per expedition, yielding a total sampling time of 819 person-days. The sampling methods implemented during fieldwork included camera-trapping, diurnal and nocturnal transects, interviews, cage-trapping and opportunistic sampling. The main results are the extension of the distribution range of 20 mammalian species in a total of 97 grid cells of 0.25° longitude by 0.25° latitude (geographical coordinates), together with information on their habitat preferences. In addition, five records of five species not detected in the area since 1980 are included. All mammalian orders are represented in proportions similar to those observed in the rest of Morocco, suggesting that the sampling techniques used in our surveys are not biased toward specific taxa. Our results highlight that the current knowledge of the distribution of numerous Moroccan mammals is clearly insufficient. The absence of this key information significantly reduces the relevance of management decisions that can improve conservation by managers and researchers.