Oriental realm
- Pronunciation
- /or-ee-EN-tul REELM/
- Category
- Ecology
- Singular
- Oriental realm
Definition
One of the eight terrestrial biogeographic realms, encompassing most of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and southern East Asia; characterized by tropical to subtropical climates and high . Historically called the Oriental realm, now more commonly termed the Indomalayan realm to avoid Eurocentric connotations.
Etymology
Example
The Oriental realm harbors exceptional diversity, including the Papilio with numerous restricted to the Western Ghats and the Malay Archipelago.
Synonyms
- Indomalayan realm
Related Terms
- biogeographic realm
- Palearctic realm
- Wallace Line
- Endemism
- Indo-Malaya
Usage Notes
The term "Oriental realm" persists in older literature and some ecological contexts but is increasingly replaced by "Indomalayan realm" in modern scientific writing. The realm spans from Pakistan and India eastward through Indochina and the Malay Archipelago to the Philippines and parts of southern China. It is bounded by the Himalayas to the north and transitions to the Australasian realm along Wallace Line.