PRACTICAL 4: MAP STUDY OF VARIOUS ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL

REGIONS OF THE WORLD

1. Zoogeographical Region:
A large geographic area characterized by a distinct assemblage of animal species, typically
sharing a common evolutionary history.
• Nearctic
• Neotropical
• Palearctic
• Ethiopian
• Oriental
• Australian
2. Continent:
One of the seven large landmasses on Earth, typically identified by distinctive physical and
cultural features.
• Africa
• Asia
• Europe
• North America
• South America
• Antarctica
• Australia
3. Island:
A landmass, smaller than a continent, surrounded by water. Islands can be found in oceans,
seas, lakes, or rivers.
• Greenland
• Borneo
• Iceland
• Sri Lanka
• New Zealand
• Madagascar
• Great Britain

4. Archipelago:
A group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean.
• Indonesian Archipelago
• Philippines Archipelago
• Japan Archipelago
 • Aegean Archipelago
• Hawaiian Archipelago
• Maldives Archipelago
• British Isles Archipelago

5. Wallace Line:
A boundary line that separates the ecozones of Asia and Australia, named after the naturalist
Alfred Russel Wallace. It marks a significant difference in the fauna on either side.
• Divides Asian and Australian fauna
• Passes between Bali and Lombok
• Proposed by Alfred Russel Wallace

6. Weber Line:
A boundary line dividing the island of Borneo into Malaysian and Indonesian territories,
established as a result of an agreement between the two countries.
• Divides the island of Borneo into Malaysian and Indonesian parts
• Named after Max Wilhelm Carl Weber
7. Biodiversity Hotspots:
Regions with exceptionally high levels of biodiversity that are under threat from human
activities. Conservation efforts often focus on these areas due to the richness of unique species.
• Sundaland, Southeast Asia
• California Floristic Province, USA
• Amazon Rainforest, South America
• Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands
• Caribbean Islands
8. Isthmus:
A narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses and separating two bodies of water.
• Isthmus of Panama
• Isthmus of Corinth, Greece
• Isthmus of Kra, Thailand
• Isthmus of Suez, Egypt

9. Strait:
A narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water, often serving as a natural
route for navigation.
• Strait of Gibraltar
• Bering Strait
 • Strait of Hormuz
• Cook Strait
• Palk Strait

10. Bay:
A body of water partially enclosed by land, usually smaller than a gulf but larger than a cove.
• Hudson Bay
• Bay of Bengal
• Chesapeake Bay
• Gulf of Oman

11. Gulf:
A large area of a sea or ocean partially enclosed by land, typically larger than a bay and
smaller than a sea.
• Gulf of Mexico
• Persian Gulf
• Gulf of California
• Gulf of Guinea
• Gulf of Thailand

12. Famous Canals:

Artificial waterways are constructed to connect and facilitate navigation between bodies of
water. Canals are often created for transportation, irrigation, or flood control purposes.
• Panama Canal
• Suez Canal
• Grand Canal (China)

13. Oceans:
Oceans are vast, continuous bodies of saltwater that cover a significant portion of the Earth's
surface. There are five major oceans: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. Oceans are the largest components of the global marine
system and play a crucial role in regulating the planet's climate.
14. Seas:
Seas are smaller, partially enclosed bodies of saltwater that are connected to, but partially or
completely surrounded by, land. Seas are generally smaller than oceans and can vary in size.
They can be found along the coasts of continents and are often named based on their
geographical location. Seas play important roles in providing habitats for marine life and
serving as routes for transportation and trade.
 Term Pair Definition Key Difference Example
Bay: A body of water partially
enclosed by land. Gulf: A larger Size and Scale: Gulfs Bay: Bay of
area of a sea or ocean, often with a are generally larger Bengal Gulf: Gulf
Bay vs. Gulf narrower entrance. than bays. of Mexico
Isthmus: A narrow strip of land Purpose of
connecting two larger landmasses. Connection:
Strait: A narrow passage of water Isthmuses connect, Isthmus: Isthmus
Isthmus vs. between two larger bodies of while straits separate of Panama Strait:
Strait water. landmasses. Strait of Gibraltar
Island: A landmass surrounded by Size: Continents are
Island vs. water. Continent: One of the much larger than Island: Bali
Continent seven large landmasses on Earth. islands. Continent: Asia
Ocean: A vast and continuous
body of saltwater covering a
significant portion of the Earth's Size: Oceans are
surface. Seas: Smaller, partially larger than seas and Ocean: Pacific
Ocean vs. enclosed saltwater areas often are major oceanic Ocean Seas:
Seas connected to an ocean. divisions. Caribbean Sea
Island: A single landmass Number of
surrounded by water. Landmasses: An Island: Sri Lanka
Island vs. Archipelago: A group or chain of archipelago is a Archipelago:
Archipelago islands clustered together. collection of islands. Maldives
Biodiversity hotspots: