View article

The amphibians of the highlands and escarpments of Angola and Namibia are a diverse group containing fifteen highland endemic or associated species. Both species richness and endemism are highest in the central and northern highlands of Angola, corresponding with higher rainfall. The Angolan highlands contain seven highland endemics, while the arid Namibian highlands contain only one. Few baseline data are available for much of the highlands, leading to an inadequate understanding of species occurrence patterns, population trends and conservation status. Recent surveys and phylogenetic revisions have led to the discovery of several previously undescribed species, and new species descriptions are still in progress. Both the species richness and endemism reported here are probably underestimates.