*3.2.2 Species diversity in Taita Hills ecosystem*

Another area within the coastal lowlands rich in amphibians and highest level of endemism is the Taita Hills complex which is located in southern Kenya and it constitutes the northernmost portion of the crystalline block faulted Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM). It belong to the 34 worldwide biodiversity hotspots [13, 14]. According to [15], three (two caecilians and one frog species) out of the 26 species recorded in Taita Hills ecosystem, are endemic and are associated with montane forest. These include *Boulengerula taitana*, *Boulengerula niedeni* and *Callulina dawida* as shown in **Table 2**.


#### **Table 1.**

*Shows population size and related parameters of* A. sylvaticus*.*


#### **Table 2.**

*Amphibian species diversity in Taita Hills ecosystem.*
