Palaearctic region

introduction Ancient biogeographic region (palae means old or ancient ) It is the largest zoogeographical region Consists Europe , North Africa ( to Sahara) , Asia ( except India ,

Pakistan , SE Asia ) and middle east. Palaearctic region is surrounded by oceans on the east , west and

north , and on the south by ethiopian and oriental regions This region shows wide range of temperature fluctuations . It also

shows wide range of fluctuation in the amount of rain fall – it supports good fauna

It includes polar arctic region The region consist of deciduous and coniferous forests , grass land ,

and the fringe of thundra

Eco zone has numerous rivers – source of water for the earliest recorded civilization

Has 4 sub regions 1. European 2. Siberian 3. Mediterranean

4. Manchurian

European sub region

Comprises the central and northern Europe It is represented by 85 families of vertebrates Amphibians and reptiles are represented with 6

families each Myogale only one genus of mammal is present

Siberian sub region

Northern Asia , Himalayas are included in it Includes 94 families of vertebrates Families of Musk deer and Moles are confined to this

regions

Mediterranean sub region

Consists remaining part of Europe , Africa and Arabia

124 families of terrestrial vertebrates Birds like Upupa and Pastor , mammals like Hyaena

are common

Manchurian sub region

Formed of Manchuria , Mongolia , Korea and japan Mammals like Tibetan Langur , Great Panda are

common Region is supported by good fauna

Fresh water eco regions

It includes rivers of Europe , rivers of Russia , Caspian seas , Siberian lakes , Baikal ( oldest and deepest lake on the planet ) , Japan's ancient lake Biwa

Faunal characteristics Palaearctic region has many affinities with temperate and boreal

regions of the Nearctic ecoregion of north America Zoologist consider them as a single region called Holarctic region Animals belonging to 1. terrestrial vertebrates – 135 families

2. fresh water fishes – 13 families terrestrial vertebrates includes 1. 10 amphibian families 2. 24 reptilian families 3. 68 avian families 4. 33 mammalian families The richness of animal species is more in warmer areas One bird families , the accentors is endemic to the region

The holarctic region has 4 endemic bird families , namely Divers or Loons , Grouses , Auks , Waxwings

No endemic mammalian orders in this region , but several families are endemic

eg: Mouse – like Hamsters , Prolagidea , Red Pandas Several mammalian species originated in the

palaearctic and spread to Nearctic during the ice ages , including Brown Bear , Red Deer , Elk , the American Bison and Rein Deer

Megafaunal Extinction

Wooly mammoth , wooly rhinoceros , Cave Bear and Europian Lion

Thank youBY ANAND P P