Biogeographic realms

Definition

Regions of Earth's surface that share similar fauna and flora due to evolutionary history, geography, and climate.

Etymology

From the Greek words 'bios', meaning 'life', 'geographia', meaning 'earth description', and 'realm', meaning 'a domain or territory'.

Example

The Neotropical realm is characterized by its diverse fauna including sloths, armadillos, and toucans.

Related Terms

• Distribution
• Evolution
• Climate

Usage Notes

Biogeographic realms are often defined based on the distribution of specific animal groups or plant communities.