HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL 



For further details regarding the fauna of the Sandwich Islands, the 

 reader is referred to the Section on Insular Faunas, which follows 

 (vide p. 10). 



New Zealand Sub-region. — The fauna of New Zealand is very remarkable, 

 rendering it worthy of the regional rank which is by some authorities 

 accorded it. Only 34 families of terrestrial Vertebrates are represented, 

 of which there are 3 of Mammals, 27 of Birds, 3 of Reptiles, and 1 of 

 Amphibians. Five families are altogether confined to the Sub-region, namely, 

 the Xenicidse, Nestoridse (Nestor - Parrots), Stringopidse (Owl - Parrots), 

 Apterygidse (Kiwis), and Hatteriidse (Tuatera). The three Mammalian 

 families represented are the Noctilionidse (Free -tailed Bats), Vesper- 

 tilionidse (Typical Bats), and the Muridse (Rats, Mice, &c). Since the 

 New Zealand Rat is probably an introduction, it is fair to say that this 

 country possesses no indigenous Mammals (excluding the purely aerial Bats), 

 while there are only about 16 species of Lizards, no land Snakes, and only 

 one Frog. The peculiar animal known as the Tuatera (Hatteria) is so 

 remarkable, however, that its presence amply compensates in interest for 

 the paucity of Reptiles and Amphibians. The insects are also deficient, for 

 only about 260 species of Macrolepidoptera have been recorded, of which 

 some 16 are Butterflies. There are no Scorpions, while Wasps (Vespidse) 

 likewise appear to be absent. 



The Lizards found in this Sub-region belong entirely to the families 

 Geckonidse (Geckos) and Scincidse (Skinks), while the frog is Liopelma 

 hochstetteri, a member of the Discoglossidse, which family, it is interesting to 

 note, is otherwise confined to the Palsearctic Region. 



Number of Families of terrestrial Vertebrates in the Australian 

 Region and its Four Sub-regions. 



AUSTEALIAN REGION IN GENERAL 



Austro-Malayan Sub-region 

 Australian „ 



Polynesian , , 



New Zealand 



Mammals. 



22(8) 



18 

 15 (3) 



Birds. 



78(17) 



65(1) 



67(3) 

 37(3) 

 27(4) 



Reptiles. 



25(3) 



23(1) 

 13 



9 



3(1) 



Amphibians. 



9(2) 



7(2) 

 3 

 2 

 1 



Total. 



13 30) 



113(4) 



98(6) 

 53 (3) 

 34(5) 



The figures in parentheses indicate the number of peculiar families. 



V. NEOTROPICAL REGION. 



Extent. — This luxuriant region comprises the whole of South and 

 Central America, the West Indies, and the southern part of Mexico, with the 

 exception of a narrow tract belonging to the Nearctic Region, which runs 

 .southwards over the central plateau almost to Guatemala. 



Sub-regions.— The four Sub-regions recognised by Wallace are the 

 following :— (1) Chilian; (2) Brazilian; (3) Mexican; and (4) Antillean. 

 The Chilian Sub-region is defined by a line commencing on the western 

 coast of South America about 4° south of the Equator, running down the 

 summits of the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, thence eastwards about the 

 Southern Tropic, and finally reaching the Atlantic coast at 30° south 

 latitude. The Brazilian Sub-region includes all the rest of South America, 

 terminating northwards at the Isthmus of Panama ; while all the Neotropical 

 country north of this on the mainland constitutes the Mexican Sub-region. 

 The Antillean Sub-region comprises all the West Indies, except Tobago and 

 Trinidad, which must be regarded as belonging to the adjacent continent. 



Physical Features. — The Neotropical is essentially a tropical region, 

 although a considerable portion of it is well within the south temperate 

 zone. It is remarkable for the great extent and luxuriance of the forests 

 which almost entirely cover the tropical portion, and for the almost 

 total absence of desert. This may be accounted for by the fact that its 

 high ground is almost entirely restricted to a comparatively narrow band 

 running down close to and parallel with the western coast. Hence the 

 greater part of the region is open to the influence of moist trade-winds 

 from the Atlantic. The condensation on the high mountain slopes of the 

 moisture carried by these winds gives rise to a great number of vast streams, 

 which flow eastwards, and hence we have an extensive, low-lying and 

 exceptionally well-watered region, harbouring an unusually rich flora and 

 fauna. The narrow strip to the west of the Andes has a singularly dry 

 climate, and the fauna consequently approaches that of the temperate 

 portion of the region. The great mountain ranges of this and the Nearctic 

 Region may be contrasted with those of the Palaaarctic, inasmuch as they 

 run in a north to south direction, while those of the latter are mainly west 

 to east. The Andes, again, are remarkable for their great height in propor- 

 tion to the amount of land surface they cover. The temperate portion of 

 the region consists chiefly of low-lying pampas, with a dry climate, but the 

 southern extremity is covered with cold, damp forest. With all these 

 varied conditions it is hardly surprising that this great region possesses a 

 marvellously rich and peculiar fauna, with a larger number of special types, 

 both family and generic, than any other. 



Zoological Characteristics. — In support of the remarks in the preceding 

 paragraph relative to the rich and varied nature of the Neotropical fauna, 

 it may be stated that representatives of 155 families of terrestrial Verte- 

 brates are found within the limits of the region, and of these no fewer than 

 39 are absolutely confined to it. The complete list of peculiar families is as 

 follows: — 



Mammals. 



Cebidse (American Monkeys). 

 C allitrichidse (Marmosets). 

 Solenodontidse (Solenodons). 

 Dasyproctidse (Agouties). 

 Chinchillidse (Chinchillas). 



Caviidse (Cavies). 

 Dinomyidse (Dinomys). 

 Bradypodidee (Sloths). 

 Myrmecophagidse (Ant-eaters). 

 Csenolestidse (Selvas). 



Birds. 



Cozrebidse (Honey-Creepers). 

 Phytotomidse (Plant-Cutters). 

 Pipridse (Manakins). 

 Oxyrhamphidse . 

 Dendrocolaptidse (American. 



Creepers). 

 Conopophagidse, 

 Formicariidse (Ant-Thrushes). 

 Pteroptochidse. 

 Galbulidse (Jacamars). 

 Bucconidse (Puff-Birds). 

 Rhamphastidse (Toucans). 



Xenosauridse. 



Steatomithidse (Oil-Bird). 

 Momotidse (Motmots). 

 Todidse (Todies). 

 Palamedeidse (Screamers). 

 Psophiidse (Trumpeters). 

 Cariamidee (Cariamas). 

 Aramidse (Courlans). 

 Eurypygidse (Sun-Bitterns). 

 Thinocorythidse (Seed-Snipes). 

 Opisthocomidse (Hoatzin). 

 Tinamidse (Tinamous). 

 Rheidse (Rheas). 



Eeptiles. 



Dermatemydidse 

 &c). 

 Amphibians. 



(Mud - Terrapins, 



Dendrobatidse 

 Frogs). 



(Solid-chested Tree- 



Hemiphraciidse. 

 A mphignathodontidse . 

 Dendrophryniscidse. 

 From the above list it will be seen that ten families of Mammals, out of 

 32 which occur in the region, and 23 families of Birds, out of 80, are purely 

 Neotropical, these numbers in both cases showing a remarkably high per- 

 centage of peculiarity. 



The following 16 families are common to this region and the Nearctic, 

 but are not found elsewhere : — 



Mammals. 



Phyllostomatidse (Vampire-Bats). 

 Geomyidse (Pocket-Gophers). 

 Heteromyidse (Pocket-Mice, &c). 



Dicotylidse (Peccaries). 

 Dasypodidse (Armadillos). 

 Didelphidse (Opossums). 



Birds. 



Tyrannidse (Tyrant Fly-Catchers). 

 Trochilidse (Humming-Birds). 

 Cracidse (Curassows, &c). 

 Odontophoridse (American Par- 

 tridges, &c). 



Icteridse (Cassiquesand Hang-nests). 

 Tanagridse (Tanagers). 

 Mniotiltidse (Wood- Warblers). 

 Vireonidse (Vireos). 

 Mimidse (Mocking-Birds). 

 Cotingidse (Chatterers). 



If this list be added to the first one, a total is obtained of 55 families 

 (or half the number present) of Mammals and Birds, which are either peculiar 

 to or highly characteristic of this interesting region. 



The insects of the Neotropical Region are remarkably abundant and 

 varied. Of the 17 known families of Butterflies, 15 are represented, and 

 one (the Brassolidse) is peculiar Moreover, the Xeotropidse, Heliconidse, 

 Fuselasiidse, and Lemoniidse extend into the southern portion of the 

 Nearctic Region, but are otherwise peculiarly Neotropical. The brilliantly 

 coloured members of the genus Morpho are confined to this region, while 

 among Moths the Castniidse and Uraniidse are specially characteristic. 

 Lastly, of land and fresh-water Mollusca the families Orthalicidse and 

 Proserpinidse are peculiar and the Urocoptidse almost so. 



Chilian Sub-region. — In this area 100 families of terrestrial Vertebrates 

 are represented, namely, 23 of Mammals, 53 of Birds, 17 of Reptiles, and 

 7 of Amphibians. The only peculiar families are the Dinomyidse, con- 

 taining a single species found in Peru, and the Thinocorythidse (Seed-Snipes), 

 numbering only five species. In spite, however, of the paucity of absolutely 

 peculiar families, certain groups are quite characteristic. Thus, among 

 others may be mentioned the Chinchillidse. (Chinchillas), the genus Lama 

 (family Camelidse), the Phytotomidse (Plant -Cutters), Pteroptochidse, 

 Steatomithidse (Oil-Bird), and the Rheidse (Rheas), while the Spectacled 

 Bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the only member of the Ursidse found in South 

 America, is restricted to this Sub-region, occurring only in the Andes. 



Brazilian Sub-region. — This is much the richest of the Neotropical sub- 

 regions, containing representatives of 133 families of terrestrial Vertebrates, 

 or 86 per cent, of those occurring in the entire region. Of these, 27 are 

 Mammals, 71 Birds, 23 Reptiles, and 12 Amphibians. Eight families are 

 peculiar, as follows : — 



Mammals. 



C allitrichidse (Marmosets). C senolestidse (Selvas). 



Birds. 



Conopophagidse. 

 Psophiidse (Trumpeters). 



Cariamidse (Cariamas). 

 Opisthocomidse (Hoatzin). 



Hemiphractidse . 



Amphibians. 



Amphignathodontidse. 



The Brazilian Sub-region is the great home of nearly all the arboreal 

 Vertebrates of South America, and hence we find that the following families 

 of tree-haunting Mammals are more numerously represented here than in any 

 other sub-region : — Cebidse (American Monkeys), Phyllostomatidse, (Vampire- 

 Bats), Hystricidse (section Erethizontidse or American Porcupines), Brady- 

 podidse (Sloths), and Didelphidse (Opossums). 



There are, in addition, many characteristic families in this great forest 

 area, and among these may be mentioned the Octodontidse (Spiny Mice), 

 Dasyproctidse (Agouties), Caviidse (Cavies), and the American Tapirs of the 

 genus Tapirus ; several families of Birds too numerous to mention in detail, 

 but including many of those which are peculiar to the Neotropical Region 



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