Reptiles and frogs of the Eastern Highlands Reptiles and frogs of the Eastern Highlands The reptiles and frogs of the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and Mozambique mark a biodiversity hotspot for herpetofauna. Diverse frog and reptile communities include endemic species. 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
Evolution of reptiles numerous sharp teeth indicating an insectivorous diet. Other examples include "Westlothiana" (sometimes considered a reptiliomorph amphibian rather than a true amniote) and "Paleothyris", both of similar build and presumably similar habit. One of the best known early reptiles is "Mesosaurus", a genus from the early Permian that had returned to water, feeding on fish. The earliest reptiles were largely overshadowed by bigger labyrinthodont amphibians, such as "Cochleosaurus", and remained a small, inconspicuous part of the fauna until after the small ice age at the end of the Carboniferous. It was traditionally assumed that first reptiles were anapsids, having a solid