Neotropical realm

The Neotropical realm is a biogeographic region encompassing Central America, the Caribbean, and much of South America, distinguished by its characteristic flora and fauna.

Biogeographic realm: A large region distinguished by characteristic evolutionary histories and distributions of plants and animals. The Neotropics are one of the major realms used to map global biodiversity.
Amazon rainforest: A vast tropical rainforest system in the Amazon Basin of South America. It is the realm's largest and most species-rich forest region.
Great American Biotic Interchange: The major exchange of land animals between North and South America after their connection. It reshaped the distribution of mammals across the realm's northern boundary.
Neotropical ecozone: A mapped ecological region broadly corresponding to tropical America in global conservation classifications. Its maps help translate the realm's biogeography into conservation planning.
Nearctic realm: A biogeographic realm encompassing most of North America and Greenland. It borders the Neotropics, with their faunal exchange shaped by the Central American land bridge.
Biogeography: The study of the geographic distribution of organisms through space and time. It provides the framework for defining the Neotropical realm.
Atlantic Forest: A tropical and subtropical forest biome along Brazil's Atlantic coast and neighboring regions. Its isolation from Amazonia fostered a distinctive, highly endemic biota.
Andean uplift: The geological rise of the Andes through tectonic processes over millions of years. Mountain building altered habitats, drainage, and diversification across South America.
Biodiversity hotspot: A region with exceptional concentrations of endemic species and substantial habitat loss. Several hotspots within the realm prioritize conservation where endemism meets severe threat.
Afrotropical realm: A biogeographic realm encompassing sub-Saharan Africa and nearby islands. Its tropical ecosystems provide a useful comparison with those of tropical America.

Linked from 24 pages