List of reptiles and amphibians of the Eastern Highlands

The reptiles and amphibians of the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and Mozambique mark a biodiversity hotspot for herpetofauna. Diverse reptile and amphibian communities include endemic species.

Geography and climate

The Eastern Highlands extend 300 kilometres (190 mi) along Zimbabwe's eastern border with Mozambique. There are two broadly defined high-altitude ecological habitats in the Eastern Zimbabwe montane forest-grassland mosaic; a wet lowland forest ecology predominates the eastern side of the mountain ranges, while a more arid ecology dominates the western side. The Highlands have a more equable climate than Zimbabwe's central plateau, with higher rainfall, low cloud and heavy mists and dew as moisture moves inland from the Indian Ocean. Many streams and rivers originate in these mountains, which form the watershed between the Zambezi and Save river systems.^[1]

Species lists

Native amphibians

Hyperolius swynnertoni at Seldomseen, Vumba

Hyperolius acuticeps at Seldomseen, Vumba

Tortoises

Leopard tortoise, Geochelone pardalis babcocki: Very large specimens of this species live in the Nyanga and Chipinge Downs. Juveniles are preyed on by ground hornbills and secretarybirds.
Speke's hinge-back tortoise, Kinixys spekii: specialists of kopje areas and live amongst the boulders of granite outcrops.

Lizards and amphisbaenians

Skinks

Arnold's skink, Proscelotes arnoldi – endemic

Geckos

Bernard's dwarf gecko, Lygodactylus bernardi (Fitzsimmons, 1958) – endemic to the Nyanga Mountains of Zimbabwe and Mozambique
Cape dwarf gecko, Lygodactylus capensis (A. Smith, 1849)

Chameleons

Marshall's pygmy chameleon or Marshall's leaf chameleon, Rhampholeon marshalli – endemic

Amphisbaenians

Swynnerton's worm lizard, Chirindia swynnertoni – Mozambique plain and adjacent Zimbabwe^[2]
Ferocious round-headed worm lizard, Zygaspis ferox – endemic to Chirinda Forest and vicinity^[2]
Rhodesian spade-snouted worm lizard, Monopeltis rhodesiana – ranges to Malawi^[2]

Snakes

Dusky-bellied water snake, Lycodonomorphus laevissimus
Common brown water snake, Lycodonomorphus rufulus
Whyte's water snake, Lycodonomorphus whytii
African house snake, Boaedon fuliginosus
Cape wolf snake, Lycophidion capense
Variegated wolf snake, Lycophidion variegatum
Dwarf wolf snake, Lycophidion nanum
Cape file snake, Limaformosa capensis
Black file snake, Gracililima nyassae
Common slug eater, Duberria lutrix
Mole snake, Pseudaspis cana
Forest marsh snake, Natriciteres fuliginoides
Olive marsh snake, Natriciteres olivacea
Eastern bark snake or Mopane snake, Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia
Beaked snake, Rhamphiophis sp.
Striped skaapsteker, Psammophylax tritaeniatus
Eastern stripe-bellied sand snake, Psammophis orientalis
Dwarf sand snake, Psammophis angolensis
Short-snouted grass snake, Psammophis brevirostris
Olive grass snake, Psammophis phillipsii
Montane grass snake, Psammophis crucifer
Bibron's burrowing asp, Atractaspis bibronii
Reticulated centipede-eater, Aparallactus lunulatus
Black centipede-eater, Aparallactus guentheri
Cape centipede-eater, Aparallactus capensis
Purple-glossed snake, Amblyodipsas sp.
Spotted bush snake, Philothamnus semivariegatus
Ornate green snake, Philothamnus ornatus
Western green snake, Philothamnus angolensis
Green water snake, Philothamnus hoplogaster
Egg eater, Dasypeltis scabra
Montane egg eater, Dasypeltis medici
Red-lipped herald snake, Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia
Tiger snake, Telescopus semiannulatus
Marbled tree snake, Dipsadoboa aulica
Boomslang, Dispholidus typus – venomous
Savanna vine snake, Thelotornis capensis – venomous
Mozambique spitting cobra, Naja mossambica – venomous
Rinkhals, Hemachatus haemachatus – venomous
Egyptian cobra, Naja haje – venomous
Forest cobra, Naja melanoleuca – venomous
Black mamba, Dendroaspis polylepis – highly venomous
Eastern green mamba, Dendroaspis angusticeps – venomous
Common night adder, Causus rhombeatus
Snouted night adder, Causus defilippii
Puff adder, Bitis arietans – highly venomous
Gaboon viper, Bitis gabonica – highly venomous
Berg adder, Bitis atropos – venomous

Frogs

African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis
Müller's platanna, Xenopus muelleri
Inyanga toad, Vandijkophrynus inyangae
Flat-backed toad, Sclerophrys pusilla
Eastern olive toad, Sclerophrys garmani
Northern pygmy toad, Poyntonophrynus fenoulheti
Bufo grindleyi – endemic
Boulenger's earless toad, Mertensophryne anotis – endemic
African red toad or strawberry toad, Schismaderma carens Smith, 1848
Forest rain frog, Probreviceps rhodesianus
Mozambique rain frog, Breviceps mossambicus
Common rain frog, Breviceps adspersus
Angola river frog, Amietia angolensis
Inyangani river frog, Amietia inyangae
Chimanimani stream frog or Hewitt's long-nosed frog, Strongylopus rhodesianus
Striped stream frog or striped long-toed frog, Strongylopus fasciatus
Golden-backed frog, Amnirana darlingi
Common squeaker, Arthroleptis stenodactylus
Cave squeaker, Arthroleptis troglodytes – endemic
Bush squeaker, Arthroleptis wahlbergii – endemic
Yellow-spotted tree frog, Leptopelis flavomaculatus
Bocage's tree frog, Leptopelis bocagii
Tinker reed frog, Hyperolius tuberilinguis
Sharpe-nosed reed frog, Hyperolius nasutus
Marbled reed frog, Hyperolius marmoratus – endemic
Swynnerton's reed frog, Hyperolius swynnertoni – endemic
Aposematic reed frog, Hyperolius aposematicus – endemic
Marbled snout-burrower or marbled shovel-nosed frog, Hemisus marmoratus

Bibliography

Branch, B. (2003). Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Struik.
Lambiris, Angelo J. L. (1989). "The Frogs of Zimbabwe". Natural Science Museum of Turin Monographs.

References

^ Encyclopedia Zimbabwe (2nd ed.). Worcester: Arlington Business Corporation. 1989. ISBN 0-9514505-0-6.
^ ^a ^b ^c Branch, Bill (1998). Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa (3 ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 122–125. ISBN 9781868720408.

[EnZim-1] Encyclopedia Zimbabwe (2nd ed.). Worcester: Arlington Business Corporation. 1989. ISBN 0-9514505-0-6.

[brch-2] Branch, Bill (1998). Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa (3 ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 122–125. ISBN 9781868720408.

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