Introduction

The process and result of evolution differ geographically as no population of

organism is distributed universally, neither the factors that influence
adaptations are identical everywhere.Evolution of population depends on local
circumstances that it faces over a period of time.These circumstances include
physical and biological factors.Their effects may be hereditary and mediated by
natural selection.
The distribution of a species or group of organisms is influenced by the time
and place of its origin.Evidently,the results of evolution are expressed in the form
of differential regional faunas and evidenced by the fossils records that indicate
past regional changes,i.e,the geographical and geological distribution.

ASPECTS OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION

There are two aspects of distribution of life on Earth:

1.Distribution of Animals in Space:It deals with the study of distribution of animal groups or animals over the
earths surface whether on land or in water.
This can be divided into two types,

1.Geographical distribution:Deals with horizontal distribution of animals on land and fresh water in
different continents and on different islands.

2.Bathymetric distribution:Deals with vertical distribution of animals in space both on land and in water.
It includes three realms.
(a) Holobiotic or distribution of animals in sea, i.e. marine realm.
(b) limnobiotic or distribution of animals in fresh water realm.
(c) Geobiotic or distribution of animals in terrestrial realm.

2. Distribution of Animals in Time or Geological Distribution:Distribution of animals in the past earth history. It can be studied only through
fossils.

ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
What is Zoogeography?
Animal geography or Zoogeography is concerned with the distribution of
all the animals,invertebrates and vertebrates,the terrestrial and aquatic over the
whole world.
There are nearly 10,00,000 species of animals.Most commonly the geography
of land and fresh water vertebrates is taken into account,which constitutes just
about 2% of the total animal strength.
The distribution of animals is called Fauna.Distribution of animal can be
studied at three levels:geographical distribution over the whole world,regional
distribution is selected segments of the world and local distribution which
includes geographical distribution of species in relation to each other and in
relation to ecology and evolution.The Zoogeography covers the distribution of
animals over the whole world.
The area of distribution of animals is represented on map which shows the
range of the family is called a distribution map.The map can be plotted
depicting the distribution of a particular group or species or it represents the
distribution of all the animals.The former are called simple maps and the latter as
compound maps.

PATTERNS OF ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION

The animals exhibit specific patterns of distribution over the globe:
1. Cosmopolitan or Continuous distribution:- animals are found all over
the world. e.g.- rats, bats, hawks, cukoos.
2. Discontinuous distribution:-animals are distributed in two or more
widely separated geographical areas. It may occur in several small areas in the
same continent or in two different continent of the same or different
hemispheres. e.g.-dipnoi fish, peripatus.
3. Bipolar distribution:-a no.of species are found to inhabit only the Artic
and Antarctic waters with no representatives in the intermediate oceans.such
distribution is called bipolar distribution and this characteristic as bipolarity. e.g.lampta, clione.

What is Endemism?
The phenomenon of restricted distribution to a small area associated with
some geographical or ecological factors is called Endemism.
Among endemics, some species exhibit very localised distribution are called
local endemics.Sometimes mutants appear and vanish without being able to
compete with parental species is called Pseudo-endomics.Some species may
show a restricted distribution but cover large areas in course of time is called
expanding or progressive endemics.Some old species may be restricted to a
small region because of a severe decline in their population is called contracting
or retrogressive endemics.

Endemicspecies

The first attempt to divide the world into zoogeographical

regions was made in 1857 by P.L.Sclater.His division was
based upon the different kinds of birds found in different
regions.In 1876, A.R.Wallace supported Sclaters division and
they divided the world into six geographical regions.

P.L. Sclater

The map of different Geographical Regions is shown

below:

(Map showing six geographical Realms)

Wallaces Classification is given below:

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In 1887, Heilprin suggested that Palaearctic and Nearctic regions had

many zoological features in common. These two regions were combined into
Holarctic Region. Thus, he recognised following five regions:

Zoogeographical
Realms
(Faunal
realms)
Robinsons Classification
is the latest
and most
accepted.H. Robinson
has presented following geographical classification:

1. Palearctic Region :11

It is the Largest region among six geographical realms. It Includes Europe,

Asia and North Africa apart from the South andSouth-east Asia.

The Example of theanimals of the Palearctic Region are:Siberian tiger,

Grey wolf,
Polar bear,
Norway rat.

2. Nearctic Region:13

Includes most of North America, Greenland and Iceland.

Example from Nearctic Region :37 mammal families-peccary , polar bear, pronghorn antelope,musk ox ,
porcupine.

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3. Ethiopian Region :Includes Africa, South of the Sahara and the adjacent island of Madagascar.

Examples from Ethiopian region:It includes 52 mammal families (most of all regions) mountain gorilla, African
elephant, giraffe, aardvark, numerous lemur spp. (Madagascar), many viverrids
(civets)

4. Oriental Region (Sclaters India):17

Includes Southern Asia from Baluchisthan and to Myanmar, South- east Asia
and some of the islands in the Indonesian region.

Examples from Oriental Region:50 mammal families

- Malay tapir, Indian
tiger,
water
buffalo,
Indian elephant

5.

Neotropical Region:19

Includes whole of South America and most of Central America.

Examples from Neotropical

Region:
50 mammal families
- Sloth, howler monkey, tapir,
capybara

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6. Australian Region:Includes Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Guinea and Eastern islands
of Indonesia.

Examples from Australian Region:28 mammal families

- wombat, kangaroo,
bandicoot, echidna

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WALLACES LINE AND WEBERS LINE

Wallace, while studying the fauna of Malaya Archipelago, found that the
fauna of Bali and Lombok separated by a distance of about twenty miles was
markedly different from one another. This inspired him to study the fauna of other
islands of this region like Celebes, Kei island, Aru, Timor, Moluccas and New
Guinea and separated them into Oriental and Australian regions. In 1863, he
drew a line on the map separating these islands into two regions. This line is
popularly known as Wallaces line after the name of its originator.
The Wallaces line runs between Philippines and Moluccas in North, between
Borneo and Celebes South- west and between Bali and Lombok Southwards.
Weber drew another line more eastwards separating Moluccas from Celebes
and Kei islands from Timor. This line is known as Webers line.
The Wallaces line and Webers line are given in Fig (a).

Fig (a).Representation of course of Wallaces line and

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BARRIERS TO DISPERSAL
Barriers may be defined as the factors which hinder in the normal distribution
of animals.
This may be either vast tracts of territory inhospitable to species or narrow
bands of environment that may act as narrow fences, preventing species from
migration to new regions.
e.g., Himalayan mountain ranges act as effective barrier between India and Eurasia
and doesnt permit migration of animals from India to Eurasia or vice versa, or a thick
forest act as a barrier for the dispersal of land animals or a desert doesnt permit the
entry and dispersal of forest animals.
The Fig (b).shows the different types of barriers to the distribution of animal.

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Fig (b). Different types of Barriers affecting the migration of

animals

Conclusion:
Zoogeography is helpful in understanding the Evolution. The increase in
number of animal by reproduction makes them to distribute in all
direction.Dispersal continues until barrier is reached. It concerned with the
distribution of all the animals,invertebrates and vertebrates,the terrestrial and
aquatic over the whole world. The distribution of animals is called Fauna.
Distribution of animal can be studied at three levels:geographical distribution
over the whole world,regional distribution is selected segments of the world and
local distribution which includes geographical distribution of species in relation to
each other and in relation to ecology and evolution.The Zoogeography covers the
distribution of animals over the whole world.
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