Introduction

• BIOGEOGRAPHY: The study of the geographical

aspects of plant and animal life, especially in
terms of distribution
• It has two branches have long been recognized,
namely,
1. PHYTOGEOGRAPHY, or the scientific study of
the geographical distribution of plants, and
2. ZOOGEOGRAPHY, the scientific study of the
geographical distribution of animals
 Zoogeographic Region
Faunal region, also called Zoogeographic Region, any of
six areas of the world defined by animal geographers on
the basis of their distinctive animal life. These regions
differ only slightly from the floristic regions of botanists.

A zoogeographical region is a portion of earth

surface having an assemblage of fauna,
particularly mammalian fauna, which possess
characteristic features distinguishing it from other
areas.
 History
The first attempt to divide the earth horizontally into
zoogeographical regions, based upon the distribution of
birds, was made by Dr. P. L. Sclater in 1857
He divided the earth into six regions:
i. Palaearctic Region
ii. Ethiopian Region
iii. Indian Region
iv. Nearctic Region
v. Neotropical Region
vi. Australian region
Zoogeographical Regions by
P.L.Scalter
 History
• In 1868 Huxley divided the earth into two main regions,
• the northern ARCTOGEA
• the southern NOTOGEA
Arctogea was sub-divided into:
i) Palaearctic
ii)Nearctic
iii)Ethiopia
iv) India
•Notogea was sub-divided into:
i) Austro-columbia
ii)Australasia
iii)New Zealand
His scheme was regarded as disproportionate and hence discarded.
 History
• In 1876, Alfred Russel Wallace published his
classical work on zoogeographical regions based on
distribution of mammals.
• Wallace retained the same classification as
proposed by Sclater, except the name ORIENTAL
was substituted for INDIAN region.
• Alfred Russel Wallace published a classical work
'The Geographical Distribution of Animals' which
still remains the standard authority on the subject
 Why Wallace choose Mammals
The reasons for selecting 'mammals' as suitable
animal group to map out zoogeographical regions
have been summed up by Wallace as follows:
a) The abundance of fossils of mammals show us
more fully than any other group, the features
of distribution in past ages.
b) The careful study of such fossils plus the
knowledge of living forms render their
classification more
 Why Wallace choose Mammals
c) The limited means of dispersal possessed by
mammals, their high power adaptations and
organizations render them less dependent upon
a particular kind of food or upon particular
conditions of existence,
d) mammals are most conspicuous (easily
noticeable or attracting attention) and can be
easily monitored, collected, observed, and
examined
 PALAEARCTIC REGION

Largest Zoogeographical region

It streches across all Europe, North part of
Africa,
Nothern China, Russia, Japan, Iran, Afghanistan,
Balochishtan.
Sub-regions:
European, Mediterranean, Siberian, and
Manchurian
 PALAEARCTIC REGION

Sub-regions:
a) European: Northern & Central Europe
b) Mediterranean: Southern Europe, Arabian, Asia
minor (the place where the continents of Asia and
Europe meet), Afghanistan, Balochistan and parts
of Russia.
c) Siberian: North Asia, North of Himalayas
d) Manchurian: Mangolia, Japan, Korea,
Manchuria (part in Northeast China)
 Climatic conditions
• Climate in most of this region is temperate.
• This shows wide range of temperature flactuations. It
shows range of flactuation in the amount of rainfall.
• it includes polar arctic region. On its northen side it
shows temperate conditions. In northern region
steppe grasslands (a steppe is an ecoregion
characterized by grassland plains without closed
forests) are present.
 Fauna of Palearctic Region

• The fauna is dominant and rich in warmer areas; diminishes

northward and ultimately in arctic area only some fresh water
fishes or Rana species (frog) are found.

• The fauna of Palaearctic region exhibits similarity with fauna of

Neoarctic region and a number of genera and families are common
to both the regions, it clearly supports that there might have
existed some land-bridges in between the two regions during
earlier times.
• Palaearctic region possesses 33 families of mammals, 68 of birds,
24 of reptiles, 10 of amphibians and 13 families of freshwater
fishes.
 Fish Fauna

The freshwater fishes include many species of

Cyprinids(Cyprinidae), a few localized catfishes, Cobitis
(Cobitidae) etc.
• Carps are dominant
• No endemic fish species

Cyprinid Catfish Cobitis sp

 Amphibians
They are varied and rich and include
a) Newts

Crested newt (Triton) Spanish newt (Pleurodeles) Alpine newt(Ichthyosaura)

 Amphibians
• 2) Salamanders

Fire Salamander Alpine Salamander Giant Salamander

Salamandra salamandra Salamandra atra Megalobatrachus
Europe Europe China & Japan
 Amphibians
• Anurans (without tail)

Toads Tree frog (Hyla) Midwife Toad (Alytes)

 Reptiles
• The region is poor in reptilian stock and there
are a few species of snakes.
• True Vipers, Asian Pit-vipers and Colubirds are
the only snakes found in this region.
• In northern portion however, Trionyx, Testudo,
Alligator of China (Alligator), Varanus (monitor
lizards), Typhlops (blind snake), and Sand Boas
are found.
 Reptiles

True viper Asian pit viper Colubrid (Colubridae)

Trionyx Testudo
 Reptiles

Chinese Alligator Monitor Lizard (Varanus)

(Alligator)

Blind snake (Typhlops) Sand Boa (Erycinae)

 Birds of Palearctic Region
• 53 families, out of which 17 more or les widely
distributed, while rest are migratory.
Pheasants, loons, kingfisher, swallows, finches,
cuckoos, ducks, herons, woodpecker,
wrens,terns, gulls etc
• Hedge sparrow is restricted to this region.
Pheasant Loon Kingfisher

Swallow Cuckoo Crane

wren Hedge sparrow Gull

 Mammal fauna

This region has 33 families of land mammals.

It doesn’t have any large spectacular mammal fauna.
Animals of word-wide distribution form one-third of
families.
Mammals of this region include moles, hedgehogs,
shrews, rabbits, squirrels, porcupines, hyenas,
camels, donkey, sheep, oxen, bears, deer, cats and
dogs.
 Mammal fauna
Two families of rodents are unique or endemic to this region
are:
 Spalacidae (family of rodents)
 Selevinidae (family of rodents)
 Four families are shared with Nearctic:
beavers , jumping mice, flying squirrels,
mole (Talpa) and four shared with African region.

African elements are wild horses. The Prezevalski's horse

(named after geographer) is the only truly wild horse in the
world.
 Affinities with regions
Palaearctic has not much rich fauna. Its fauna is a complex of tropical old world
families ind temperate New world families.

Some mammals of Palaearctic region are rabbits, murids (rodents), dogs and bat families. These are
worldwide in distribution.

This region also has shrews, squirrels, mustelids and members of cat family. These are also found in every
other region except Australian region.

Palaearctic region shares bears and deer with Nearctic, Neotropical, and Oriental regions families. T

It shares bovids with Nearctic, Ethiopian and Oriental.

It shares only pandas and racoons with Nearctic region.

The camel family is the only mammalian family occurring in

Palaearctic region. It has a discontinuous distribution.
The relatives of camels Vicunas and Guanocos live
in the Neotropical region
Mustelid
 Oriental Region
Zoogeographic division and boundaries

It is essentialy formed of Asia includes its tropical parts such as

India, Pakistan (excluding Balochistan), Sri Lanka, Burma,
Malayasia, Indonesia, Indo-China, Southern China and phillipines.

Formosa (currently Taiwan) and Scathe China, form the North of

this region Himalayas are present.

On the West of it Arabian sea is present.

 Sub-regions
Sub-regions This region includes 4 sub regions.
1. Indian: Indian subcontinent including Pakistan (excluding Baluchistan) extendsto the foot
of Himalaya and south up to Mysore. East and Western Ghats tropical rain forests. There are
rocky hills in the central part and desert in the north west are

2. Indo-Ceylonese. Sri Lanka and southern parts of India containing Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

3. Indo-Chinese. China south of 30° latitude, Burma and Thailand.

4. Indo-Malayan. Malayan peninsula (Myanmar (Burma), the southwestern section of

Thailand, Peninsular (or West) Malaysia, and Singapore) and islands of Malay Archipelago
(largest group of islands in the world, consisting of the more than 17,000 islands of
Indonesia and the approximately 7,000 islands of the Philippines.)and Indonesia
 Climate
• The temperature is mainly tropical, in summer
the temperature is up to 30C in most areas
while in autumn and spring it is from 10-20 C.
• In the eastern part of the region, from the
Northeastern corner of India, Burma, Indo-
China etc, there is much rain forest.
• High mountains with rich plant cover from
Burma to China and Eastern Himalayas
 Physical Features

• Northern Indian is chiefly composed of grassy plains with

scattered trees & bushes. The northwest is occupied by
deserts. But southern portion is rich in vegetation and forest.
Sri anka, Malaysia, Indonesia & Indochinese regions are
almost entirely covered with thick forest.
 Mammals
Mammals of oriental region are:

1. Hylobatidae (gibbons)

2. Tarssidae( Tarsier)

3. Tupaiidae Animal(Tree shrews)

4. Galeopithecidae (flying lemurs)

Tarsier Gibbon
 Mammals
• Among mammals, the Orangutan, monkeys,
Indian elephant, rhinoceros, Malayan tapirs,
pandas, four horned antelopes, sloths, bears,
anteaters, and spring dormice etc., are
confined to this region.
 Birds
Exclusive birds.
• Exclusive birds are fairy blue bird (Irena puella)
(which is found in Philippines where it follows
troupes of monkeys to feed on insects disturbed by
their movement.
• There are 4 genera and 14 species of leaf birds.
Whitehead's trogon (Harpactes whiteheadi) is
found in Indonesia and monkey eating eagle is
endangered species found in the dense forests of
Philippines.
fairy blue bird Whitehead’s Tragon Monkey eating eagle

Oriole Thrush Kingfisher

 Birds
• Although only one family of bird is endemic,
many brilliantly coloured birds live in the
Oriental region.
• These include orioles, thrushes, bulbuls,
bluebirds, bee eaters, pigeons, weaver birds,
kingfishers etc. The magnificent peacocks and
jungle-fowls are native to this region.
 Reptiles
There are plenty of lizards, turtles, venomus snakes, pythons and
crocodiles. Lizards belong to Agamidae and Varanidae and include
geckos, skinks, calotes, draco and chameleon.

There are king cobras, common cobras,

typhlops, xenopeltid snakes, uropeltid snakes
and sea snakes (Hydophidae)

Crocodiles include Crocodylus porosus, C palustris. Gavialis

Tomistoma is found in Sumatra and Borneo. Chinese Alligator

(Alligator sinensis) is found in southern China.
King Cobra Common Cobra Blind snake

xenopeltid snake Uropeltid snake Sea snake

 Amphibian

Caecilians, frog and toads are found in this region.

1. Caecilians are represented by Ichthyophis and

Gegenophis found in Indo-Malay region.

2. Tree frogs belong to family Polypedatidae and Hylidae family is

absent. Malabar gliding frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) found in
Western Ghats in India. Tailed Amphibian are few and found in
northern Indo-china.
3. Fire-bellied toads are exclusive and extend to Palaearctic range.
 Fishes

• Fishes are dominated by carps and catfishes (Cypriniformes).

• Loaches, mullets mud-eels are exclusive to this region.
• One species of the Chondroste paddlefish (Polyodon) occurs in Yangtze
River of China. Another species of this group occurs in American rivers.
 Affinities with other regions
Affinities Fauna shows similarity with the Ethiopian Region because of their proximity
similar environmental conditions.

1. It shares many mammals with Ethiopian and Palaearctic regions. These include
hedgehogs, porcupine, civets, hyenas, pigs etc.

2. A quarter of its mammalian families are shares with Africa.

These include pangolins, bamboo rats, lorises, some monkeys,
apes, rhinoceros, chevrotains and elephants.

3. There are some striking differences between the two regions,

Oriental and Ethiopian.
The Oriental region has moles, bears, tapirs, and deer. Ethiopian fauna lack
these animals. But some fauna found in Ethiopian are absent in oriental regions.
These jerboas, coneys, and wild horses
Jerboa Conyes chevrotains
 Ethopian Region
This region includes continental Africa south of Sahara desert. Thus
northern part of Africa is excluded from this region. The northern
part of Africa is included in Palaearctic region. Some authors include
large island of Africa Madagascar and some neighbor island like
Mauritius, Comoro islands in this region. But these islands are very
distinctive geographically, geologically and zoologically. Therefore,
these islands are treated separately as ancient continental islands.
• 1. East African: This includes tropical Africa and tropical Arabia.
• 2. West African: Western Africa up to Congo includes forests.
• 3. South African: It includes southern portion of Africa.
• 4. Malagasy: It includes Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles (an
archipelago of 115 island in Indian ocean).
 Physical features and climate
Physical features and climate: The region is bounded on all its
sides by sea except on northern side which is continuous with
Sahara, the largest desert in the world . This desert forms an
effective barrier between the Palaearctic and the Ethiopian region.

Since nearly the whole of Africa lies between the tropics, the
conditions of life are much more uniform. It has big rivers, high
mountains, vast grassy plains, and thick tropical forests. In January
the whole of Ethiopian region has a temperature of 20°C to 30°C.,
with still higher temperature in Central Africa. The distribution of
plants and animals is more influenced by moisture than by the
temperature.
 Zoological Characteristics:
Mammals
The fauna of Ethiopian region is very rich. varied, and well
marked. It contains as many as 161 families of terrestrial
vertebrates. The African scene is pictured with herds of
large mammals like gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys,
giraffes, bovids, antelopes, zebras, lions, leopards.
rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, elephants, hyenas etc.
Only the shrews, cricetid mice. rabbits, mustelids, cats,
dogs, squirrels and bovids have a wide distribution. Rest
of the mammals are shared either with the Palaearctic or
Oriental.
 Endemic species
• Twelve families are exclusive to this region.
These endemic families are:
1. Hippopotamidae (hippopotamus)
2. Potamagolidae (otter shrews)
3. Giraffidae (giraffe)
4. Orycteropidae(Aard Varks)
5. Chrysochloridae (golden moles)
6. Macroscelidae (elephant shrews)
 Endemic Mammals

Hippopotamus Otter shrew Okapi (Giraffidae)

Giraffe (Giraffidae) Orycteropidae(Aard Varks) Chrysochloridae

 Endemic species

• Anamoluridae (flying squirrel)

• Pedetidae(spring hare)

• Thyronomyidae (cane rats)

• Ctenodactylidae (Gundis)

• Bathyergidae( sand burrowing rodent)

• Petromuridae (rock rats)

 Endemic Species

Macroscelidae Anamoluridae Pedetidae

(elephant shrews) (flying squirrel) (spring hare

Thyronomyidae Bathyergidae Ctenodactylidae

 Birds & Reptiles
• Birds are very numerous and include cuckoos, hornbills,
woodpeckers, kingfishers, bee eaters, weaver birds, orioles,
owls, goat suckers, storks, pigeons, parrots, pheasants, sunbirds,
guinea fowls, secretary birds, ostriches etc. Six families of birds
are unique to this region, and these include ostriches, secretary
birds, hammer-heads, crested touracos, mousebirds, and helmet
shrikes.

• Reptilian fauna is very rich and includes reptiles, such as, turtles,
agamids, crocodiles, monitor lizards, python, vipers, boas etc. Of
the total 50 species of chameolons in the world, 46 species are
found in this region. Girdled lizards are peculiar to this region.
 Agamid Monitor Lizard Python

Girdled lizard Viper Boa

Goat sucker Storks Guinae fowls

Sun birds secretary bird crested touracos

hammer-heads Mouse bird Helmet shrikes

 Amphibians and Fish fauna
• Amphibians are less distinctive. Frogs and toads are numerous
but tailed amphibians and tree frogs are absent. The only
notable family which is exclusive to this region is Dactylethridae
represented by the genus Xenopus, the clawed toad.

• Ethiopian fish fauna is diverse and includes

many primitive groups such as, polypterus,
protopterus, mormyrids and others.
Polypterus Protopterus Mormyrids
 Affinities
• Affinities: In number of unique families of
vertebrates, it ranks second only to the
Neotropical region.
• The Ethiopian region shares with Palaearctic,
families of jerboas, coneys, dormice, and wild
horses but it also differs markedly from this
region in being without moles, beavers, bears,
and camels.
 NEARCTIC REGION
Zoogeographic division and boundaries
This region includes the North American continent (US and Canada) up to the middle
of Mexico. Whole of the Greenland (autonomous territory of Kingdomof Denmark)
also included in it.
Sub-regions of Nearctic
This region has following sub-regions

Californian: It is narrow strip between Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range. It is from
Vancouver to British Columbia.

Rocky Mountain: This includes dry mountainous region east of California.

Alleghany: This includes eastern region of USA.

Canadian: This sub region includes Canada, Greenland and Alaska.

 Physical features and Climate
Climate of this region is temperate with an arctic edge. There are grasslands in the
middle of the continent. Western part is arid with mountains and coniferous
forests. Nearctic region has a great variety of physical features.

1.Greenland is entirely arctic. It remains buried completely beneath a mass of ice.

2. The eastern part of North America is composed of mixed or deciduous forests.

3. The middle part is composed of grasslands.

4. The northern region has a great stretch of coniferous forests. The winter
temperature in northern region is much lower than in Europe. Only a few species
survive here under the thick layer of ice.
 FAUNA
This region has 120 families of terrestrial vertebrates. Out of this, there are 26
mammals, 59 birds, 21 reptiles and 14 amphibian families.
Mammals
There are 26 families of land mammals.
1. Endemic mammals include rodents, pocket mice (Heteromyidae), pocket gophers,
(Geomyidae) and mountain beavers (Aplodontidae). Pronghorns and Mountain
beavers (Aplodontidae), Sewellel (Antilocapridae) are endemic.

2. Palaearctic species include beavers, moles (Talpidae), pikas and jumping

mice.

3. Some Neotropical species have crossed over to North America. These are
marsupials such as opossum (Didelphis virginiana), shrew opossum (Lestoros
inca), 9-banded armadillo (Dasypus) and tree porcupine.
4. There are some mammals of wide ranging distribution. These are shrews,
rabbits, squirrels, mice, cats, bats, bears, deers and bovids. .
Pocket mice (Heteromyidae) Pocket gophers, (Geomyidae) Mountain beavers
(Aplodontidae)

Pronghorns Pika Opossum

9-banded armadillo Tree porcupine Bovid

 Fauna
• Birds
There are 49 families of birds in this region out
of which 39 are widely distributed.

Exclusive birds are red cardinals, humming birds,

tanagers and wild turkeys (Meleagrididae).

Golden plover migrates from Europe.

Red cardinals Humming birds Tanager

Wild turkey Golden plover

 Fauna
Reptiles
Reptiles of this region are turtles, non-venomous garter snakes, rattle snakes, geckos, homed
lizards, limbless lizard (Ophisaurus), horned toad (Phrynosoma) and Alligator mississipiensis. Gila
monster (Heloderma) is exclusive to this region.

Amphibians
1. Urodeles include salamanders, hellbender (Cryptobranchus), neotenic larva called axolotl, eel-
like siren. Congo eel (Amphiuma) and tiger salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum. There are dusky
salamanders, red-backed salamander and Jordan's salamander.

2. Newts include Smooth newt, great crested newt, banded newt, alpine newt, Bosca's newt.

3. Anarans include American Bell toad, Liopelma, North American bull frog Leopard frog found
in grassy meadows. Rana cascadae and Bufo bureas inhabit Cascade Mountains of Oregon, USA.

4. The desert spade-foot toad is adapted to the arid climate of northwestern America Other
toad species are: Oak toad, southwestern toad and the giant toad which is 20 cm long.
Hellbender Axolotl Siren

Congo eel Spadefoot toad Alpine newt

Garter Snake Rattle snake Gecko

Limbless lizard horned toad Alligator mississipiensis

 Fauna
Fish
1. There are many carps (Cyprinidae) and perches.
2. Holostei are endemic that include only two surviving ganoid fishes.
One species of bowfin (Amia calva) found in American lakes. The seven
species of garpike (Lepidosteus) found in American rivers. These fishes
possess sharp teeth to seize and gulp prey with extraordinary swiftness.
3. Paddlefish (Polyodon) occurs in Mississippi river of America and
represents Chondrostei. Another species of paddlefish occurs in China.
These fishes have paddle-like snout that carries sensory organs for
locating prey by detecting its electrical fields.
4. Ameiurid catfishes, moon-eyes (Hiodontidae) and bass family with
genera Morone and Upiblema are also endemic.
Carp Perch Bowfin

Paddlefish Moon-eye Morone spp

 Affinities of Nearctic region
The fauna of Nearctic is a complex of New world tropical and Old world
temperate families. The fauna of Nearctic Region is rich in reptiles and is a
complex of tropical and temperate animals. But some widespread families
found in the neighbouring regions are absent in this region.

1. There are no hedgehogs, hyenas or pigs from Palaearctic in this region.

There are no tapirs from the Neotropical. It also has no camels which are
represented in both the neighbouring regions. But skunks arid raccons are
found in Neotropical. But these are absent from the neighbouring regions.

2. There are 24 famines of Nearctic land mammals. None of these has a

discontinuous distribution. Thus Nearctic does not share a family
exclusively with either of Old world tropical regions or with Australia
 Affinities of Nearctic region
3. Birds of the Nearctic region are less differentiated from the neighbouring regions.

4. The Nearctic is rich in reptiles as compared to ‘

Palaearctic region.

5. The fauna of Nearctic is very similar to Palaearctic region. Like Palaearctic region, it
possession bears, wild cats, deer, wild oxen, squirrels, rabbits, moles, tits, wrens.
Therefore, Heliprin In 1887 suggested that the union of these two regions into one great
region called Holarotic. Nearctic and Palaearctic share nine terrestrial vertebrates. These
are exclusive to this Holarotic region.

6. Nearctic is joined by Central isthmus to the Neotropical region. Both these region
share armadillos, porcupines, peccaries and opossum.
 Australian Region
Zoogeographic division and boundaries

This region includes Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea,

New Zealand and islands east of Wallace’s line.
Some authors do not include New Zealand and other
pacific islands in Australian regions. They treat them
separately as ancient islands. But most of the authors
include New Zealand and these islands in Australian
region
 Sub-regions
Australian region is composed of following sub-regions
1. Australo-Malayan: It includes Malayan Archipelago,
Moluccas, Solomon Islands and New Guinea.

2. Australian: It includes Australia and Tasmania region.

3. Polynesian. It includes Polynesia and the adjoining islands.

4. New Zealand: It includes New Zealand, Norfolk Island,

Auckland and Campbell island.
 Climate of Australia

Australia has several different climate zones. The

northern section of Australia and New Guinea
has a more tropical climate. It is hot and humid
in the summer and quite warm and dry in the
winter. The southern parts have temperate
climate. They have cooler with cool sometimes
rainy winters.
 Physical features

New Guinea and northern Australian region is

tropical with rain forests. East Australia is
covered with lush green forests, Western
Australia is desert and there a grasslands in the
middle.
 Ancient Archiac Fauna
Australian region has different ancient mammals. Therefore, Australian region is called as
Veritable museum of archaic animals. These primitive forms include mammals:

 Monotremes (egg-laying mammals)

 Marsupial (pouched mammals)

 Birds like cassowaries, emus, toothbilled pigeons, birds of paradise

 Reptiles like scale-footed lizard

 Fish like Neoceratodus (lungfish) Freshwater mussel Trigonia

 Mountain shrimp. (Anaspids)

There are is a reason of presence of such ancient archaic fauna in Australian region. This region
enjoyed prolonged physical isolation. It prevented the higher and more aggressive placental
mammals from reaching here. Therefore, Australian region became refuge of primitive forms.
Marsupials of Australian Region
 Ancient Archiac Fauna

Cassowaries Emus Birds of paradise

Scale-footed lizard Neoceratodus Mountain shrimp

 Fauna
The Australian region has 134 families of terrestrial vertebrate. Of which 30 are unique to this
region. The thirty endemic families are composed of 8 of mammals, 17 of birds, 3 of reptiles
and 2 of amphibians.

Mammals.
Eight of the 9 families of marsupials are unique. There are 52 genera of 6 families of marsupials
that are unique and are not found in the Neotropical show parallelism with their counterpart
placentals in other parts of world in their evolutionary modifications.

2. Placental mammals that were introduced by man or some of them immigrants themselves
include rodents and bats, rabbits, foxes, rats, mice, dingo dogs and murid mice.

3. Monotremes are represented by Duck-billed platypus Ornythorhynchus and Echidna.

 Birds
There are 58 families of birds out of which 44 are widely distributed.
Species ha wide range are trogons (Harpactes), hawks, kingfisher,
cuckoos, parrots and pigeon

Shared with Oriental are frogmouths, wood-swallows, flower

peckers

There are 10 families of endemic birds. These include cassowary,

emu, kiwi, lyrebird, bower birds, honey suckers, birds of paradise,
magapods and cookabur laughing jackass that feeds on lizards and
snakes.

Birds not present are pheasants, finches, barbets and woodpeckers

 Trogon Frogmouth wood-swallows

flower peckers Kiwi Bower bird

Lyrebird aughing jackass Megapode
 Reptiles & Mammals
Reptiles
Reptiles are pythons, biting snakes, elepid coral snakes, geckos, skinks, agamid, scale-
footed lizard (Pygopus) and Komodo Dragon (Varanidae), crocodiles and turtles,
Chelyd turtles and snake-necked turtles (Chelodina) possess strikingly necks.
Sphenodon pounctatus is found exclusively in New Zealand.

Amphibian
There are no tailed amphibians. Common toads are absent and frogs a belong to
family Hylidae is present. It is also found in the New World and Paleartcic but absent
in African and Oriental Regions. The Australian Green Tree Frog secretes mosquito
repellent compound from the skin gland. The Australian frogs, Rheobatrachus silus
and R. vitellinus carry tadpoles in their stomachs. Som species of frogs deserts are
Notaden, Neobatrachus and Helioporus
Elepid coral snakes Skink Komodo dragon

Snake-necked turtles Tuatara Sphenodon punctatus

Australian Green Tree Frog Notaden

Rheobatrachus silus
 Fish
Fresh water fishes are rare and belong to family
Osteoglossidae. Lung fish (Neoceratodus) is
restricted to Burnett and Mary rivers in
Queensland.
 Affinities
Australian region is characterized by the presence of
many primitive forms. Fauna of region is poor in
freshwater fishes, Amphibia and reptiles.

There is uniquenes mammals and affinities exist with the

Oriental and South American faunas. Some of the fauna,
a few frogs, turtles, and marsupials, resemble to
Neotropical region. another part, made up of terrestrial
reptiles, many birds, and placental mammal show a close
affinity with Oriental region. The Australian region share
file fauna with the Ethiopian region.
 Neotropical Region
Zoogeographic division and boundaries
This region includes South America, most of Mexico, West Indies and Caribbean Islands.
It joins the Nearctic region from Central isthmus. It is separated from all other gion by
Atlantic Ocean on eastern side and Pacific Ocean on the western side.

Subregions of Neotropical

Chilian: Western coast of South America, embracing summitsof Andes, Peru and Bolivia
Brazilian: Tropical forests up to Isthmus of Panama. These are open plains and pasture
lands.

Mexican: Mexico and northern lands of Isthmus of Panama and Rocky Mountains.
Antilean or West Indies: These include Caribbean Islands except Tobago and Trinidad. It
contains mountainous and rocky areas covered with forests.
 Physical features and Climate
Mostly climate is tropical but the southern part extends into
temperate zone. There are rain forests on the western side
and grasslands in the middle in Argentina. Andes Mountain
are present on the western coast. The Amazon River basin
has a high rainfall all the year round. Its tropical forests are
highly extensive and luxuriant.

Desert is totally absent in this region. The non-tropical part

of South America is east of Andes Mountain. It is covered
with treeless grassy plains and form well known pampas.
There is severe climate of southern Patagonia in extreme. It
passes through 0°C during winter.
Neotropical Region
 Fauna
This region has peculiar, diverse, rich, and specialized fauna. Its fauna include 155 families
of terrestrial vertebrates. Out of these, 39 are peculiar to this region. This region has
highest number of endemic families.
Mammals
There are 32 families of mammals of which 16 are unique.

1. Widely distributed animals are shrews, rabbits, squirrels, mice, dogs, bears, cats and
deer
2. Camels are represented by two species of Llama: L. vicuna and L. guanaco. Llama and
Alpaca are domesticated breeds of these species.
3. There are three species of tapirs of which one species also occurs in the Oriental Region.
4.Monkeys include spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, howlers, capuchin, marmosets
which belong to families Cebidae and Hapalidae of suborder Platyrrhina.
There are diversity of endemic mammals in this region. These include six-banded
armadillo (Euphractus), armadillo (Dasypus), two-toed sloth (Choloepus), 3-toed sloth
(Bradypus), 3 species of anteaters, (Myrmecophaga).
11 endemic families of rodent Caviomorpha. It also has five endemic families of bats that
include disc winged bats, furipterid bats and vampire bats (Desmodontidae)
Marmosets Armadillo Sloth

disc winged bats Vampire bat Ant-eater

Llama Alpaca Spider Monkey

squirrel monkeys Howlers Capuchin

 Fauna
5. Marsupials belong to the family Didelphidae (12
genera). These include common opossum
(Didelphis) and water opossum (Chironectes) and
family Coenolestidae (3 genera) includes opossum
rat (Ceonolestes).
6. The common opossum has also spread to the
Nearctic Region where it has adapted to varied
climatic conditions. There are no hedgehogs, moles,
beavers, hyenas, bovids and horses in this region.
 Fauna (Birds)
This region has most diverse form of birds. Hence continent of South America is called Bird
Continent. Almost 50% of the avian fauna is endemic. This fauna is unique due to which South
America is known as The Bird Continent. Out of 67 familie birds, 25 are endemic to the region. There
are:

• Partridge-like tinamous, toucans that carry enormous beaks.

• Trumpeters, hoatzin, cock of the rock (Rupicola).

• Oil birds and several species of macaws, such as yellow macaw. Hahn's macaw, red bellied macaw and
red and blue macaw.

• Quail is the only member of Galliformes here.

• Bee hummingbird found in Cuba measures only 6 cm and is the smallest bird.

• Ostriches are represented by Rhea americana.

• Common birds include herons, ibis, storks, ducks, hawks, owls, plover and cuckoos.

• There is scarcity of song birds.

 Fauna
• Reptiles
• There are plenty of snakes, iguanid lizards,
Crocodilus, Caiman (alligator) and turtles.
• Xantusiid lizards are endemic.
• There are tree boas, anacondas, pit vipers and
coral snakes. Mud turtles (Pelomedusidae) are
shared with Africa and snake-neck turtles,
Chelodina (Chelidae) with Australia
Iguanid lizards Caiman (alligator) Tree Boa

Anaconda Mud turtle

 Fauna (Amphibia)
There are hylid tree frogs such as Brazilian tree frog Hyla, Hylodes, Cuban tree
frog Venezuelan tree frog that deters predators by foul odour and the poisonous
Phyllomedusa found in Amazon. Leptodactylus deposits its eggs in frothy mass in holes
on muddy banks of rivers and ponds. The Hyla faber makes crater-like nests. The
Tungara frog is noisy and makes foam nests. Tiny frogs belong to the genera
Phyllobates, Dendrobates and Agalychnis

The yellow frog is the largest and most toxic and its poison is used by Colombia tribes
to poison their blowgun darts. The dart poison frog is also highly poisonous. The
tongue and toothless Surinam toads show parental care. The small Chilean frog carries
eggs in the gular pouch while the Brazilian tree frog. Hyla goeldii carries eggs on the
back.

Caecilians are represented by Typhlonectes. Oedipus is the only tailed amphibian

(Urodela) found in South America.
Brazilian tree frog Cuban tree frog Venezuelan tree frog

Brazilian tree frog A caecillian Oedipus

 Fish Fauna
There are no carps (Cyprinidae) and other fish
fauna is endemic.

• There is electric eel (Gymnotidae), cat fishes

(Diplomystes, Nematogenys) and characin fish
(Piranhas).

• Lung fishes are represented by Lepidosiren

paradoxa found in Amazon River
Electric eel Catfish

characin fish Lepidosiren

 Affinities
Affinities Most of the fauna of this region is remnant of the old Tertiary period. The northern part
of this region is rich with this fauna.

1. Endemic species: The fauna of Neotropical Region is rich in endemic families. Almost 40
families are endemic out of 155 families of vertebrates. Other fauna is shared with Nearctic and
other tropics. These so much endemic species may be due to the fact that South America was
isolated for a long time from other continents. It enables this region to evolve a peculiar fauna.

Absence of important/mammalian species: There are commonly occurring mammalian families.

But these families have no representatives in the Neotropical region. For example, this region has
no hedgehogs, moles, beavers, hyenas, bovids and native horses. The absence of horse is matter
of much interest. Horses were existed both in North and South America only a few thousand
years ago. Here anthropoid apes (apes that are closely related to humans) dog-faced monkeys are
also absent.

Species shared with other regions: The Neotropical region shares deer, rabbits squirrels, cricetid
mouse, cats, dogs and bear with Nearctic and Palearctic regions. also shares some important
groups of animals. These include animals like tre porcupines, opossums and armadillos.