World Distribution of Animals | Biosphere | Geography

The study of distributional patterns of animals at global scale is carried out in different ways e.g.:

(i) Collective study of the distributional patterns of all members of particular species. This involves the divi­sion of animals in definite distributional areas on the basis of the abundance of animals species;

(ii) Animal distribution is also studied at community level which involves the consideration and study of total popula­tion of all individuals of all species of a given region.

It may be pointed out that the distributional patterns of animals at global or regional levels are more complex than the distribution of vegetation because animals are very much mobile. Thus no animal species is univer­sally distributed because several factors distort the uniformity of distributional patterns of animals.

Distribution of Land Animals:

The following facts must be take into account while studying the world distributional patterns of animals:

(i) Physical environmental conditions deter­mine the number, abundance and diversity of animals. Maximum diversity is noticed among the vertebrate animals of the land and freshwater habitats of the tropical regions.

(ii) There is zonal pattern in the world distribu­tion of animals.

This zonal pattern of the animal distribution is in two forms viz.:

(a) Horizontal zones, and

(b) Vertical zones.

Latitudes have maximum con­trol on the horizontal zonal patterns of animal distribu­tion because sunlight decreases from the equator to­wards the poles, which means there is corresponding decrease in vegetation and its diversity towards in­creasing latitudes and hence species diversity also decreases from the equator towards the poles.

It may be further pointed out that the origin and evolution of animals first took place in the tropical or the equatorial regions from where animals were dispersed to other areas. Thus the development of animal zones in the higher latitudes took place because of the dispersal and migration of animals from the animal zones of the tropical regions.

Thus the horizontal animal zones of the higher latitudes are the result of the dispersal and migration of animals and various phases of specula­tion. For example, the development of temperate ani­mal zone took place due to subtraction of animals during their migration from the tropical zone.

(iii) The animals have radiated in all directions from the centres of their origin. In other words, the animals have dispersed and migrated in all directions through various routes from the centres of their origin. Consequently, the distributional patterns of the world fauna are found in concentric zones.

(iv) The diversity of animals of any region is the result of several phases of their dispersal and coloniza­tion.

(v) The concentration of animals could be pos­sible only in the mammals whereas the distribution of other species of animals is more widespread and is not specific.

(vi) The distributional patterns of all the animal species are not uniform because the distribution of same animal species is continuous while that of other species is discontinuous or disjunct. For example, the distribution of moose (a type of deer) is found in continuous zonal pattern in the taiga regions of North America and Eurasia whereas the distribution of Azure – winged maggie, weather fish and bitterling is discon­tinuous as their two continuous distribution zones in middle and western Europe and in south-east Asia are separated by an extensive zone devoid of these ani­mals.

(vii) Oceanic islands are characterized by spe­cial types of animals because there has been minimum migration and dispersal of plants and animals to the islands because of great oceanic barriers. Hawaii is­land, which was never connected with any landmass in the geological history of the earth, lacks in reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes and mammals (except one species of bats).

A.R. Wallace attempted the classification of world animals into faunal regions in 1876. Since then a number of attempts have been made to divide the world animals into faunal regions by several scientists e.g., P.J. Darlington (1957), S.C. Kendleigh (1961), W. George (1962), De Latin (1967), W.T. Neil and M.D.F. Udavardy (1969), De Laubenfels (1970), J. lilies (1974) etc. but still the division of world animals into faunal regions as presented by A.R. Wallace is the most convincing and acceptable among all the subsequent divisions. Normally, the world is divided into the following 6 major faunal regions (fig. 44.2).

(1) Palaearctic Region:

Palaearctic region includes Europe and mid­dle and north Asia which represent 28 chordate fami­lies. The important animals of this great faunal region are Russian desmans, dormice of Eurasia, Mediterra­nean mole rats, saiga and chiru antelope (a type of deer), acentors, crocodiles, lizards etc. Reptiles are found in lesser number.

This faunal region is further divided into 5 sub-regions on the basis of vegetation e.g.:

(i) Tundra region represents caribou, lemming, muskox, arctic hare, arctic fox, wolf, polar bear etc.

(ii) Temperate coniferous forest region- moose, mule, deer, lynx etc. are the important animals of this region,

(iii) Temperate grassland region represents saiga, wild ass, horse, camel, jerboa, hamster, jackal etc.,

(iv) Decidu­ous forest region represents racoons, oppossum, red fox, black bear as important animals, and

(v) Desert region – the important animals of this region are lizards, snakes, hamster, hedgehog, rat, jerboa, cottontail etc.

The palaearctic faunal region includes 136 families of vertebrate animals, 100 genera of mammals and 174 genera of birds. Besides, 3 unique families of vertebrate animals, 35 and 57 unique genera of mammals and birds respectively are also found in the palaearctic faunal region.

(2) Nearctic Region:

Nearctic region consists of the geographical territories of North America and Greenland. It is sig­nificant to point out that there is much similarity between palaearctic and nearctic faunal regions. Both the regions were connected through the Bering Land Bridge during Tertiary Epoch and Pleistocene period. This land bridge (fig.44.1) enabled free exchange and migration of animals between these two regions which resulted into much mixture of animal species and therefore increase in species diversity.

For example, American and European bisons reproduce after having sexual intercourses between them. Both the regions have salmons and trouts. On the basis of such biologi­cal similarities between plaearctic and nearctic re­gions, some scientists have grouped these two regions into one single region as holarctic region. It may be pointed out that in the beginning, horses, pigs, goats and sheep were not present in the nearctic region but later on these animals migrated to North America from N.E. Asia through the land-bridge of Bering Strait.

The nearctic region is characterized by a few special and typical animals e.g. pocket gophers, pocket mice, prong- horns, wild turkeys etc. Reptiles are found in large numbers. There are 122 families of all vertebrates, 74 genera of mammals, and 169 genera of birds. Besides, 12 unique families of invertebrates, 24 unique genera of mammals and 52 unique genera of birds are also found in this region.

Nearctic faunal region is also divided like palaearctic region in 5 sub-faunal regions on the basis of vegetation:

(i) Tundra region is characterized by the domi­nance of caribou, musk ox, lemming, arctic wolf, arctic fox, polar bear etc. It may be pointed out that the genera of the animals of palaearctic and nearctic faunal re­gions are the same but their species vary.

(ii) Temperate coniferous forest region includes moose, mule, deer, wolverine, lynx etc.

(iii) Temperate grassland region is characterized by bison, pronghorn, jack rabbit, prairie dog, gopher, fox, coynote etc.

(iv) Deciduous forest region includes racoons, oppossum, red fox, black bear etc. The genera of animals of deciduous forest regions of the palaearctic and nearctic faunal regions are almost the same but their species vary.

(v) Desert region is characterized by lizards, snakes, kangaroo, jerboa, hamster, hedgehog, cottontail etc.

(3) Oriental Region:

Oriental region includes the geographical areas of mainly south and south-east Asia. The Hima­layas, Tibetan plateau and Chinese mountainous re­gion form transitional zones between palaeartic and oriental fauanl regions. Similarly, East Indies form transitional zone between Oriental and Australian faunal regions. The whole of this faunal region falls under tropical regions and hence this faunal region is associ­ated with the Ethiopian faunal region.

This faunal region represents 164 families of all vertebrates, 118 genera of mammals and 340 genera of birds out of which there are 12 unique families of vertebrates, 55 unique genera of mammals and 165 unique genera of birds. This faunal region is characterized by the domi­nance of Indian elephants, rhinos, several species of deers, antelopes, pheasants, tigers, lizards, snakes, gibbons, monkeys, sunbear, porcupine etc. Tree shrews, gibbons, orangutans and tapirs are the typical animals of the Oriental faunal region.

(4) Ethiopian Region:

Ethiopian region incorporates substantial ar­eas of the whole of Africa south of Sahara and far off south western Arabia which is separated from the African region by Red Sea. This faunal region also falls under tropical climatic regions. Unlike other faunal regions, this region is characterized by mini­mum diversity of animals though there is complete absence of moles, beavers, bears and camels in this region. This region represents 174 families (22 are unique) of vertebrate animals, 140 genera (90 are unique) of mammals and 294 genera (179 are unique) of birds.

This faunal region is further divided into 3 sub-regions:

(i) Desert region is characterized by the domi­nance of springbok, porcupine, jerboa, rock hyrax etc.

(ii) Savanna region represents zebra, eland, gemsbok, hartebeest, gnu, giraffe, elephant, ostrich, lion, cheetah etc.

(iii) Tropical forest region includes important animals like okapi, gorilla, chimpanzee, monkey, for­est elephant etc.

There is similarity in a few animals of the Oriental and Ethiopian faunal regions like elephants, lions, cheetah etc. Hippopotamus, aardvark, ostrich and rodents and a few species of insectivorous animals are exclusively found in the Ethiophian faunal region.

(5) Australian Region:

Australian region includes Australia, New Zealand and islands between S.E. Asia and Australia (such as New Guinea, Soloman, Samoa etc.). Some scientists do not include New Zealand in the Australian faunal region. There is difference of opinions among the scientists about the linkage of this region with the oriental faunal region. This region is dominated by placental animals. Marsupials (characterized by pouch attached to the outer part of their abdomen) are the typical animals of the Australian faunal region.

These animals carry their off-springs in their pouch which has feeding mechanisms. There are 141 families (22 are unique) of vertebrate animals, 72 genera (44 are unique) of animals and 298 genera (1989 are unique) of birds.

This faunal region is further divided into 3 sub – regions:

(i) Desert region is characterized by marsupial, mole, jerboa, parakeet, lizard etc.

(ii) Savanna region is represented by emu, red kangaroo, bandicoot, wombat, cockatoo, parrot etc.

(iii) Tropical forest region is dominated by tree and musk kangaroos, wallaby, koala, oppossum, cassowary, etc.

(6) Neotropical Region:

Neotropical region includes the whole of South America which is characterized by tropical environments. This region represents the largest number of exclusive mammals (which are not found else­where). About 32 families of marsupials (which are quite different from the Australian marsupials), and several typical and special families and genera of monkeys, birds and rodents are exclusively found only in this faunal region. There are 168 families (44 are unique) of vertebrate animals, 130 genera (103 are unique) of mammals and 683 genera (576 are unique) of birds in this faunal region.

This faunal region is further divided into 3 sub-regions:

(i) Temperate grassland region is dominated by guanaco, rhea, viscacha, cavy, fox, shunt etc.

(ii) Desert region is characterized by guanaco, rehea, armadilo, vulture etc.

(iii) Tropical forest region is represented by mon­key, kinkajou, pygmy ant eater, sloth, tree snakes, parrot, humming birds etc.

Some scientists have assigned the status of minor faunal region to those islands which have been con­nected with the mainland (though this concept of isola­tion of some islands from the mainland throughout the geological history of the earth is still debatable). Such islands include Hawaii island, Greater Antilles, Mada­gascar and New Zealand. The solenodons and hutia family of rodents in Greater Antilles; tenrecs, lemurs, aye-aye, Malagasy mongooses and fossa, Malagasy rats and vanga shrikes in Madagascar and Kiwis, tustara, New Zealand frogs etc. in New Zealand are some of the important animals of such so called isolated islands.