Eastern Arc Forests
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Eastern Arc Forests
The Eastern Arc forests is a montane tropical moist forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. The ecoregion comprises several separate highland areas above 800 meters in Kenya, and (mostly) Tanzania. Setting The Eastern Arc forests extend across a total of 23,800 km2 (9,200 sq. mi.) of mountainous landscape from the Taita Hills on Kenya-Tanzania border through central Tanzania to the Udzungwa Mountains in the southwest. The ecoregion includes numerous mountain blocks separated by lowland areas. The mountain form a broad arc curving to the northwest and southwest, and include the Taita Hills, North and South Pare Mountains, East and West Usambara Mountains, Nguu Mountains, North and South Nguru Mountains, Ukaguru Mountains, Uluguru Mountains, Rubeho Mountains, Uvidunda Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains. The ecoregion includes two outlying mountains, the Mahenge Mountains south of the Udzungwas and Malundwe Mountain in Mikumi National Park. At lower elevations, the mountain f ...
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Udzungwa Mountains
The Udzungwa Mountains are a mountain range in south-central Tanzania. The mountains are mostly within Iringa Region, south of Tanzania's capital Dodoma. The Udzungwa Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and are home to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna with large numbers of endemic species. The mountains are home to the Hehe people, and the name Udzungwa comes from the Kihehe word “Wadzungwa", which means the people who live on mountainsides. Iringa is the largest settlement in the mountains, and the regional headquarters. Geography The Undzungwa Mountains cover an area of 16,131.40 km², the largest of the Eastern Arc ranges. The highest peak in the range is Luhombero at . The mountain range extends generally northeast-southwest. The Usangu Plain lies to the northwest, drained by the Great Ruaha River and its tributaries. The Great Ruaha River separates the Udzungwa Mountains from the Rubeho Mountains and Uvidunda Mountains to the northeast. The Kilo ...
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Ukaguru Mountains
The Ukaguru Mountains are a mountain range in central Tanzania. The mountains are in Morogoro region, east of Tanzania's capital Dodoma. The mountains are named for the Kaguru people. The Ukaguru Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and are home to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna with large numbers of endemic species. Geography The Ukaguru Mountains are plateau, covering an area of 1258.8 km2. The Mkondoa River separates the Ukaguru Mountains from the Rubeho Mountains to the southwest. The Mkata Plain lies to the east. The Nguru Mountains lie to the northeast. The Kiboriani Mountains, a western outlier of the Ukagurus, and East African Plateau lie to the west. Climate The Ukaguru Mountains lie in the rain shadow of the taller Uluguru Mountains to the southeast, which block the moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean which provide most of the rainfall in the Eastern Arc Mountains. Most of the rainfall occurs in the November-to-May wet season, althou ...
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Nectophrynoides
''Nectophrynoides'' is a genus of true toads, family Bufonidae. They are endemic to Eastern Arc forests and wetlands in Tanzania,Channing and Howell. (2006). ''Amphibians of East Africa.'' Pp. 104–117. and all except '' N. tornieri'' are threatened. Species of the genus are ovoviviparous: fertilization is internal, and the females give birth to fully developed, small toadlets. Together with the West Africa ''Nimbaphrynoides'' (which was included in ''Nectophrynoides'' in the past) and ''Limnonectes larvaepartus ''Limnonectes larvaepartus'' is a species of fanged frog in the family Dicroglossidae endemic to northern and western Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is unique in that it has internal fertilization and gives live birth to tadpoles. Other frog species t ...'', they are the only frogs/toads in the world that do not lay eggs.Wells (2007). ''The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians.'' Pp. 486–487. The Ethiopian '' Altiphrynoides'' (includes ''Spinophrynoides''), which lay eg ...
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Leptopelis
''Leptopelis'' is a genus of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. They are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding Madagascar. It is placed in monotypic subfamily Leptopelinae, although this subfamily is not always recognized. They have a number of common names, including forest treefrogs, tree frogs, leaf-frogs, and big-eyed frogs. Description ''Leptopelis'' are mostly medium-sized frogs (snout–vent length ), but '' Leptopelis palmatus'' can reach . Tympanum is present. Most species have expended digit tips. Ecology ''Leptopelis'' are mainly arboreal, but some species, especially in more arid areas, are terrestrial or even subfossorial. Breeding typically starts with the heavy rains in the beginning of the wet season. Eggs may be deposited either in water or in/on the ground. Development includes a free-living tadpole stage, with a possible exception of '' Leptopelis brevirostris'', whose large eggs suggest that development could be direct. Males typically call in bush ...
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Hyperolius
''Hyperolius'' (commonly known as the African reed frogs or reed frogs) is a large genus of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae from Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov .... Species Different sources may delimit species differently, and as new species are still being described, different number of species can be found. As of early 2022, ''Amphibian Species of the World'' lists 145 species and ''AmphibiaWeb'' 152 species. The following list follows the ''Amphibian Species of the World'': Nomina inquirenda The following species are considered '' nomina inquirenda'' (species of doubtful identity): * ''Rappia granulata'' Tornier, 1896 * ''Rappia fimbriata'' Tornier, 1896 * '' Hyperolius laticeps'' Ahl, 1931 * '' Hyperolius thoracotuberculatus'' Ahl, 1931 ...
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Busy Lizzie
''Impatiens walleriana'' ( syn. ''Impatiens sultanii''), also known as busy Lizzie (British Isles), balsam, sultana, or simply impatiens, is a species of the genus '' Impatiens'', native to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. The Latin specific epithet ''walleriana'' honours a British missionary, Horace Waller (1833–1896). Description It is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant growing to tall, with broad lanceolate leaves 3–12 cm long and 2–5 cm broad. Leaves are mostly alternate, although they may be opposite near the top of the plant. The changeable, simple leaves are stalked 1.5 to 6 cm long. The leaf blade is ovate to broadly elliptic, sometimes obovate, 2.5 to 13 inches long and 2 to 5.5 inches wide, green and sometimes spotted or pink or reddish on the underside. Leaflets are missing. The hermaphroditic, zygomorphic flowers are profusely borne, 2–5 cm diameter, with five petals and a 1 cm spur. The seedpod explodes when rip ...
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African Violet
''Streptocarpus'' sect. ''Saintpaulia'' is a section within ''Streptocarpus'' subgenus ''Streptocarpella'' consisting of about ten species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Tanzania and adjacent southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa. The section was previously treated as a separate genus, ''Saintpaulia'', but molecular phylogenetic studies showed that it was nested within the genus ''Streptocarpus''. Species and cultivars are commonly called African violets (although they are not closely related to true violets) or saintpaulias. They are commonly sold as house plants. Several of the species and subspecies of the section are endangered, and many more are threatened, as their native cloud forest habitats are cleared for agriculture. The conservation status of ''Streptocarpus ionanthus'' has been classed as near-threatened. Description Saintpaulias, which grow from 6-15 cm tall, can be anywhere from 6-30 cm wide. The leaves ...
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Southern Highlands, Tanzania
The Southern Highlands is a highland region in southwestern Tanzania, at the northern end of Lake Malawi. The highlands include portions of Mbeya, Njombe, Rukwa, Ruvuma, and Songwe regions, bordering Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. Mbeya is the largest city in the highlands. Geography The highlands comprise a group of plateaus and volcanic mountains, including the Mbeya Mountains, Poroto Mountains, Kipengere Range, Mount Rungwe, Kitulo Plateau, Umalila Mountains, and Matengo Highlands. The Ufipa Plateau extends northwest, between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Rukwa. The eastern and western branches of the East African Rift converge in the highlands, and the Western Rift continues south as the valley of Lake Malawi. To the northeast, the Makambako Gap separates the Southern Highlands from the Eastern Arc Mountains. Mt. Rungwe (2,960 metres), and Mtorwe (2961 m) in the Kipengere Range, are the highest peaks in the highlands. Other peaks include Chaluhangi (2933 m) and Ishinga (26 ...
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Southern Rift Montane Forest–grassland Mosaic
The South Malawi montane forest-grassland mosaic is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion of Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. The ecoregion encompasses several high mountains and plateaus north and east of Lake Malawi. Climate The ecoregion has a tropical highlands climate, generally cooler and more humid than the surrounding lowlands. Most rainfall occurs during the November to April wet season. Most rain comes from convectional thunderstorms originating over Lake Malawi. Flora The predominant plant communities include montane grasslands, shrublands, and evergreen forests. Fauna Near-endemic mammals include the Black and red bush squirrel ''(Paraxerus lucifer)'', Swynnerton's bush squirrel ''(Paraxerus vexillarius)'', Greater hamster-rat ''(Beamys major)'', Grant's bushbaby ''(Galagoides granti)'', Desperate shrew ''(Crocidura desperata)'', and Tanzanian vlei rat ''(Otomys lacustris)'' The Rungwe dwarf galago, a newly-identified species in genus '' Galagoid ...
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Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park is a national park near Morogoro, Tanzania with an area of that was established in 1964. It is the fourth largest in the country. The park is crossed by Tanzania's A-7 highway. Territory Mikumi National Park borders Selous Game Reserve on the south, the two areas forming a unique ecosystem. Two other natural areas bordering the national park are the Udzungwa Mountains and Uluguru Mountains. Malundwe Mountain is within the park, the highest of a belt of hills that run east and west through the park, connecting the Uluguru Mountains to the northeast with the Uvidunda Mountains, Uvidunda and Udzungwa mountains to the west. Malundwe Mountain consists of three peaks along a ridge running north and south. Malundwe's south peak is the highest point in the park, reaching 1290 meters elevation. Flora and fauna The landscape of Mikumi is often compared to that of the Serengeti. The road that crosses the park divides it into two areas with partially distinct environ ...
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Malundwe Mountain
Malundwe Mountain, also known as Malundwe Hill, is a mountain in Tanzania. It is located in Mikumi National Park in Morogoro Region. Geography Malundwe consists of three peaks along a ridge running north and south. Malundwe's south peak is the highest point in the park, reaching elevation. Malundwe is the highest of a belt of hills that extend east and west through the park, connecting the Uluguru Mountains to the northeast with the Uvidunda Mountains to the west. Malundwe's eastern slopes drain into the Ruvu River, its western slopes drain into the Great Ruaha River, and the northern slope drains into the Wami River. Ecology Malundwe is covered with Eastern miombo woodlands, miombo woodland above 700 meters elevation. A patch of evergreen submontane forest covers the peaks, with an area 4.5 km², descending to 800 meters on wetter eastern face of the peaks. The forests are an enclave of the Eastern Arc forests, which extend across higher elevations in the Eastern Arc Mountains ...
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Mahenge Mountains
The Mahenge Mountains are a mountain range in Ulanga District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania. The town of Mahenge is located in the northeastern mountains. The mountains are southeast of Iringa, in the Eastern miombo woodlands ecoregion. Geography The Mahenge Mountains cover an area of 2802.29 km². The Mahenge mountains are an outlier of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The Kilombero Plain lies to the north and west, and separate the Mahenge Mountains from the Udzungwa Mountains. Selous Game Reserve lies to the east. The Mbarika Mountains lie to the south and southwest. Geology The mountains are made up of proterozoic rocks, including schist and marble, of the Mozambique Belt. Spinels are mined from the Ipanko deposit. Australia's Black Rock Mining corporation is developing open-pit graphite mines in the mountains. Climate The dry season is June to October. People The major economic activities of the Mahenge population is agriculture. The major crops include maize, rice, and bean ...
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