The fynbos area has been divided into two very similar
ecoregions: the lowland fynbos (below 300 m above sea level) on the sandy soil of the west coast, and the montane fynbos of the
Cape Fold Belt. The
Lowland Fynbos and Renosterveld experiences regular winter rainfall, especially to the west of
Cape Agulhas. The ecoregion has been subdivided into nine areas: the West Coast Forelands from the Cape Flats to the Olifants River (Western Cape); the Warm Bokkeveld basin around the town of
Ceres; the Elgin Valley around the town of
Elgin; the sandy Agulhas Plain on the coast; the Breede River valley around the town of
Worcester; the South Coast Forelands from
Caledon west to
Mossel Bay; the south-eastern end of the Little Karoo;
Langkloof valley; and the Southeastern Coast Forelands west from
Tsitsikamma to
Gqeberha. The flora of the lowlands contains a high number of endemic species, and tends to favour larger plants than those growing on the hillier areas. They include the larger Restionaceae such as species of
Elegia,
Thamnochortus, and
Willdenowia and proteas such as king protea (
Protea cynaroides) and blushing bride (
Serruria florida). Particular types of lowland fynbos include the shrubs and herbs of the coastal sand dunes, the mixture of ericoids and restoids with thickets of shrubs such as
Maytenus, and other
Celastraceae,
sideroxylons and other
Sapotaceae, and
Rhus and other
Anacardiaceae on the coastal sands; the classic fynbos of the sandplains of the West Coast Forelands, and the Agulhas Plain; the grassy fynbos of the hillier and wetter areas of the South and South-Eastern Coast Forelands; areas where fynbos and renosterveld are mixed; coastal renosterveld on the West and South Coast Forelands; and the inland renosterveld of the drier inland Little Karoo and Warm Bokkeveld. The area is also home to a large number of endemic creatures that have adapted to life in this area, such as the
monkey beetles which pollinate
Ixia viridiflora. Endemic species of fish in the five river systems occur in the area, too. Endemic reptiles and amphibians include a number of
tortoises and the chameleon-like arum frog (
Hyperolius horstockii). The
Montane Fynbos and Renosterveld is the area above , a total of of the Cape Fold Mountains. The same level of floral variety, including all three characteristic fynbos families, is found there, but ericas predominate. Because the higher and wetter areas are more protected and contain important water sources, the original flora is more intact than in the lowlands; but agriculture and global warming are still threats. The region includes the mountains in the west from the
Cape Peninsula to the
Kouebokkeveld Mountains, the south coast hinterland from Elgin to Gqeberha, the mountains north of the Little Karoo from
Laingsburg to
Willowmore, and the
inselberg hills within the Little Karoo. About half of these areas are originally fynbos, and about half are renosterveld. Many different microclimates occur, so the flora changes from west to east, and also varies with altitude up the hillsides away from the coast and according to compass direction. Lower elevations are covered with protea fynbos, with ericas taking over further up. Plant species include pincushions (
Leucospermum). The wildlife includes a number of endemic bees, beetles, horseflies, and ants, and birds such as
Cape sugarbirds and the
orange-breasted sunbird. Many of these birds and insects are important and specific pollinators for the fynbos, such as the mountain pride butterfly (
Aeropetes tulbaghia) which only visits red flowers such as
Disa uniflora and pollinates 15 different species. Larger animals include antelopes, particularly Cape grysbok (
Raphicerus melanotis), common duiker (
Sylvicapra grimmia), and klipspringer (
Oreotragus oreotragus). The extinct
blue antelope and
quagga were also fynbos natives. ==Economic uses==