Since its formation about 75 million years ago, the Ethiopian Highland has been a relatively static range. The cold phases in the Pleistocene were also apparent in Africa, but the consequences were different than in Europe. Glaciers did not have as large an influence as in Europe, but the timberline ecotone was lowered by about 1000m in the Ethiopian Highland. Thereby a contiguous alpine steppe belt arose, connecting adjacent summits.
This long continuity, as well as the relative seclusion of the highland have jointly been responsible for today's species composition. The fauna community as it is found today, therefore, mainly originated in the Ethiopian Highlands itself, which explains the high proportion of endemits.

29 August 2011
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