Biogeography

Abstract

This chapter deals with the geographical distribution of plants and animals within the region. Tropical East Asia is defined as the eastern half of the Oriental Region and the other biogeographical regions are briefly described. The transitions between Tropical East Asia and the adjacent Australian and Palearctic Regions are described and discussed, as well as the less clearly defined transition with the rest of India. Patterns of diversity within Tropical East Asia are considered and four major subregions (Wallacea, the Philippines, Sundaland, and Indochina) are recognized. The remainder of the chapter deals with the biogeography of the numerous islands in the region, including the islands on the Sunda Shelf, Hainan and Taiwan, the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands of Japan, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India, the Mentawai Islands and others off the west coast of Sumatra, Krakatau, the Philippines, Sulawesi, and the islands of Wallacea.