|
Reptiles And Frogs Of The Eastern Highlands
The reptiles and amphibians of the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and Mozambique mark a biodiversity hotspot for herpetology, 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 (Africa), Save river systems. Species lists Tortoises * Leopard tortoise, ''Geochelone pardalis babco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rhampholeon Marshalli Distribution
''Rhampholeon'' is a genus of small chameleons, commonly known as pygmy chameleons or African leaf chameleons, found in central East Africa (extending slightly into adjacent DR Congo). They are found in forests, woodlands, thickets, and savanna, and most species are restricted to highlands. They are brown, grey, or green, and typically seen at low levels in bushes, or on the ground among grasses or leaf litter. Species The following 19 species are recognized as being valid."''Rhampholeon'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. *''Rhampholeon acuminatus'' – Nguru pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon beraduccii'' – Beraducci’s pygmy chameleon, Mahenge pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon boulengeri'' – George Albert Boulenger, Boulenger's pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon bruessoworum'' – Mount Inago pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon chapmanorum'' – Chapmans's pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon gorongosae'' – Mount Gorongosa pygmy chameleon *''Rhampholeon hattinghi'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kopje
An inselberg or monadnock () is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. In Southern Africa a similar formation of granite is known as a koppie, an Afrikaans word ("little head") from the Dutch diminutive word ''kopje''. If the inselberg is dome-shaped and formed from granite or gneiss, it can also be called a bornhardt, though not all bornhardts are inselbergs. An inselberg results when a body of rock resistant to erosion, such as granite, occurring within a body of softer rocks, is exposed by differential erosion and lowering of the surrounding landscape. Etymology Inselberg The word ''inselberg'' is a loan word from German, and means "island mountain". The term was coined in 1900 by geologist Wilhelm Bornhardt (1864–1946) to describe the abundance of such features found in eastern Africa. At that time, the term applied only to arid landscape features. However, it has sin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cape Wolf Snake
The Cape wolf snake (''Lycophidion capense'') is a species of oviparous, nonvenomous snake which occurs over a wide area of Southern, Central, and East Africa. Though docile and harmless, it may be confused with the very venomous stiletto snake. Subspecies The species contains three subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, ''L. c. capense'': *'' Lycophidion capense capense'' *'' Lycophidion capense jacksoni'' *'' Lycophidion capense loveridgei'' ''Nota bene'': A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ''Lycophidion''. Description Adults regularly reach 40 cm in length, but some grow to 64 cm. It has a flattened, tapering head and marbled eye. The brown or black lateral and dorsal scales are tipped white, while the ventral scales are all-white. Long recurved fangs are present on the upper as well as lower jaws, for which they are named. Diet and behaviour They are widely distribute ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
African House Snake
The African house snake (''Boaedon fuliginosus'') is a species of snake of the family Lamprophiidae. Harmless to humans, it is widely kept and bred in captivity as a pet by herpetoculturists due to its small size, placid demeanor and easy care requirements. Geographic range The snake is found in Africa, mainly preferring relatively drier areas as habitat. References See ''Boaedon capensis ''Boaedon capensis'', the Cape house snake, also known as the brown house snake, is a species of lamprophiid from Botswana, South Africa (from KwaZulu-Natal all the way through to the Western Cape), Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They are a ... as it is the same species'' * Reptiles described in 1827 Reptiles of Africa Lamprophiidae {{Alethinophidia-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lycodonomorphus Whytii
''Lycodonomorphus'' is a genus of snakes commonly referred to as African water snakes. They are small, nonvenomous snakes, with all members being endemic to Africa, especially Tanzania. Species The following nine species are recognized as being valid. *'' Lycodonomorphus bicolor'' — Tanganyika white-bellied water snake *''Lycodonomorphus inornatus'' — Olive house snake, Olive ground snake *'' Lycodonomorphus laevissimus'' — Dusky-bellied water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus leleupi'' — Congo dark-bellied water snake, Mulanje water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus mlanjensis'' — Mlanje white-bellied water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris'' — Floodplain water snake *''Lycodonomorphus rufulus'' — Common brown water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus subtaeniatus'' — Eastern Congo white-bellied water snake, Lined water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus whytii'' — Whyte's water snake ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Common Brown Water Snake
The common brown water snake (''Lycodonomorphus rufulus'') is a species of nonvenomous South African snake. This gentle, harmless snake is by far the most common water snake in southern Africa. It can be found from Cape Town in the south, along the wet east coast of South Africa and inland as far as Gauteng, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam .... Throughout its range, its natural habitat is water margins, where it shelters under leaves and logs. It emerges at night to hunt frogs and sometimes rodents. It lays up to 10 eggs at the end of summer. References Scale count of Lycodonomorphus members* Broadley, D.G. (1967). A review of the genus Lycodonomorphus Fitzinger (Serpentes: Colubridae) in southeastern Africa, with a key to the genus. Arnoldia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lycodonomorphus Laevissimus
''Lycodonomorphus'' is a genus of snakes commonly referred to as African water snakes. They are small, nonvenomous snakes, with all members being endemic to Africa, especially Tanzania. Species The following nine species are recognized as being valid. *'' Lycodonomorphus bicolor'' — Tanganyika white-bellied water snake *''Lycodonomorphus inornatus'' — Olive house snake, Olive ground snake *'' Lycodonomorphus laevissimus'' — Dusky-bellied water snake *'' Lycodonomorphus leleupi'' — Congo dark-bellied water snake, Mulanje water snake *''Lycodonomorphus mlanjensis'' — Mlanje white-bellied water snake *''Lycodonomorphus obscuriventris'' — Floodplain water snake *''Lycodonomorphus rufulus'' — Common brown water snake *''Lycodonomorphus subtaeniatus'' — Eastern Congo white-bellied water snake, Lined water snake *''Lycodonomorphus whytii'' — Whyte's water snake ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally descr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Monopeltis Rhodesiana
''Monopeltis rhodesiana'' is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to southern Africa. Geographic range ''M. rhodesiana'' is found in southern Malawi, central Mozambique, southern Zambia, and northwestern Zimbabwe. Habitat The preferred natural habitat of ''M. rhodesiana'' is mesic savanna, with alluvial soil. Description ''M. rhodesiana'' is pinkish, both dorsally Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ... and ventrally. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of . The maximimum recorded SVL is . The tail is short, with only 5–9 caudal annuli. Branch, Bill (2004). ''Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chirinda Forest Botanical Reserve
The Chirinda Forest Botanical Reserve is situated on the slopes of Mount Selinda, south of Chipinge, in the Chipinge Highlands of Manicaland, Zimbabwe, and is administered by the Forestry Commission. The reserve is situated at between in altitude, and receives some to of annual rainfall. of its higher levels, above , is covered by moist evergreen forest, specifically Zanzibar-Inhambane transitional rain forest, of which it represents the southernmost occurrence. The headwaters of three streams, namely the Zona, Chinyika and Musangazi, drain the two broad highlands which it encloses. The boundaries of the reserve are not strictly enforced, so that cattle grazing and plant harvesting are ongoing. The reserve is surrounded by communal settlements, commercial timber plantations (eucalypts and pines) and small-scale commercial farming units. The naturalist Charles Swynnerton was appointed manager of the nearby Gungunyana farm in 1900, and a number of plant, bird and insect names ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zygaspis Ferox
''Zygaspis ferox'' is a worm lizard species in the family Amphisbaenidae. It is endemic to Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam .... References Zygaspis Reptiles of Zimbabwe Endemic fauna of Zimbabwe Reptiles described in 1997 Taxa named by Donald George Broadley Taxa named by Sheila Broadley Fauna of the Eastern Highlands {{reptile-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swynnerton's Worm Lizard
Swynnerton's worm lizard (''Chirindia swynnertoni''), also known commonly as Swynnerton's round-headed worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to eastern Africa and southern Africa. Etymology The specific name, ''swynnertoni'', is in honor of British entomologist Charles Francis Massy Swynnerton.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Chirindia swynnertoni'', p. 259). Geographic range ''C. swynnertoni'' is found in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Habitat The preferred natural habitats of ''C. swynnertoni'' are grassland and thicket. Description ''C. swynnertoni'' may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of . It is uniformly pale purplish pink. Branch, Bill (2004). ''Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida. 399 pp. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marshall's Pygmy Chameleon
Marshall's pygmy chameleon (''Rhampholeon marshalli''), also called Marshall's leaf chameleon, Marshall's dwarf chameleon, or Marshall's stumptail chameleon, is a species of chameleon found in the forests of Zimbabwe and Mozambique in Africa. It grows from and feeds on insects. When standing still, it resembles a leaf on a branch. Etymology The specific name, ''marshalli'', is in honor of British entomologist Guy Anstruther Knox Marshall, who collected the holotype. Identification Marshall's leaf chameleon is unmistakable. It is the only such tiny chameleon in its range (sympatric with '' Chamaeleo dilepis quilensis'', the flap-necked chameleon to a degree). This is a tiny species of , females being slightly larger. Isolated populations have distinct size variations; for example, those found just to the north of Mutare appear to be larger than those just to the south (separated by deep valleys). It has a dorsoventrally flattened head and body with prominent ribs and apparent ve ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
