The Eastern Arc Mountains and Their Biological Significance

Abstract

The Eastern Arc Mountains are a group of isolated mountains stretching from southeast Kenya through south central Tanzania and are situated between 3°20’ to 8°45’S latitude and 35°37’ to 38°48’E longitude (Fig. 1.1) They consist of the Taita Hills in Kenya, and the Pare, Usambara, Nguru, Ukaguru, Rubeho, Uluguru, Mahenge, Malundwe, and Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania (Lovett 1985; Lovett and Wasser 1993). Their age, geologic origin, and proximity to the Indian Ocean are features that separate them from other highland regions in East Africa. These same features have also contributed to their very diverse and unique biota, which is quite distinct from the adjacent savannah and woodland habitats in East Africa (Moreau 1966; Kingdon 1974a,b, 1989; Lovett and Wasser 1993).