598 General and Applied Biology 



3. Neotropical Region (Gr. neo, new or recent; tropical) . — This region 

 includes Central America, Mexico, South America, and the West Indies. 

 The following types are present in this region : tapir,* sloth,f armadillo,! 

 wild pig (peccary),* llama,* marmoset,t flat-nosed monkeys, f tree ant- 

 eaters,! tree porcupine,f and many kinds of deer,* rats,* cats,* wolves,* 

 and rabbits.* 



4. Ethiopian Region (Gr. aithiops, black face). — This region includes 

 Africa (south of the Sahara Desert), southern Arabia, and Madagascar 

 and adjacent islands. The following animals are characteristic of this 

 region, some of which are native only of this region: African elephant, 

 hippopotamus, rhinoceros (several species), zebra, giraffe, antelopes 

 (many species), lions, leopard, lemurs (found in Madagascar), gorilla, 

 chimpanzee, baboon, and secretary bird. 



5. Oriental Region (L. orientalis, eastern).- — The region includes India 

 (south of the Himalayas), southern China, the Philippines, Siam, Burma, 

 Borneo, Java, and Sumatra. Animals of this region include the Indian 

 elephant, rhinoceros, Indian tapir, tigers, jungle fowls (ancestors of do- 

 mestic fowls), gibbons, orangutan (in Borneo and Sumatra), and the 

 cobra. 



6. Australian Region. — This region includes Australia, New Zealand, 

 New Guinea, Tasmania, Papua, etc. This region has practically no 

 higher mammals. It is the home of the marsupial animals (animals with 

 pouches in which the young may be carried). It is still the home of the 

 so-called Monotremes or lowest types of mammals, such as the duckbill. 

 This region is one of the most peculiar in the world. Such animals as 

 the following are characteristic: the lizardlike Rhyncocephalia of New 

 Zealand, certain wingless birds of New Zealand, the Australian kangaroo 

 with its closest relative the opossum in America, and certain character- 

 istic birds, snakes, and lizards. 



7. Polynesian Region (Gr. poly, many; islands). — This region includes 

 the oceanic islands of the tropical Pacific, such as the Hawaiian Islands, 

 Samoa, Society Islands, and Fiji Islands. This region is sometimes in- 

 cluded with the Australian. The islands were formed in many instances 

 by volcanic eruptions. Their shores are fringed with coral reefs. The 

 vegetation is often large and herbaceous, such as the palm and banana 

 trees. There are fewer types of living organisms than in the larger re- 

 gions, and consequently there is less competition. There are no land 

 mammals present except bats, and there are no amphibia on these islands. 



*Types peculiar to South America now but have similar representatives in North America. 

 The llama has its nearest lelative, the camel, in the deserts of Asia. 



fTypes peculiarly South American with practically no forms in North America except the 

 Canadian porcupine. 



