Zoogeographic realms

Definition

Regions of Earth's surface characterized by similar animal faunas, reflecting evolutionary history and geographic isolation.

Etymology

From Greek 'zoo-', meaning 'animal', 'geōgraphia', meaning 'description of the earth', and 'realm'.

Example

The Nearctic realm encompasses North America south to central Mexico, while the Palearctic realm includes Europe and Asia excluding southeast Asia.

Related Terms

• Biogeography
• Distribution
• Faunas

Usage Notes

The boundaries of zoogeographic realms are not always precise and can be subject to debate.