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
Elgin Reptiles used to contain bone, but are now virtually empty. This made them difficult to identify and study. In the 19th century until the late 20th century, the most common method to explore them was to infill the void, then break the surrounding rock . More recently, CT-scanning has been used to see inside the rock and reconstruct the fossils digitally. These can also be printed or cast as models to facilitate study and as museum pieces. Elgin Museum has such a cast of the dicynodont "Gordonia". The reptiles of Cutties Hillock, Quarrywood and the Hopeman Sandstones are Late Permian, around