neotropic

Neotropic (neotropical) refers to the Neotropical biogeographic realm, one of the Earth's eight major divisions used in biogeography to categorize the distribution of plants and animals. The term designates the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas south of the Nearctic realm, including Central and South America and the Caribbean, with some classifications extending into parts of southern Florida and southern Mexico. The preferred term in scholarly writing is Neotropical; neotropic is an alternative spelling.

Geography and climate: The realm covers a wide range of habitats, from lowland Amazonian rainforests to Andean cloud forests, Caribbean dry forests, and high-elevation páramo in the Andes. Rainfall varies from perennially moist in the equatorial belt to seasonally dry in savannas and some coastal zones. The climatic diversity supports a correspondingly diverse biota.

Biodiversity and endemism: The Neotropics house extraordinary species richness and high endemism, including numerous monkeys, sloths, rodents, birds, reptiles, and a vast plant diversity with many families that originated or diversified here. The Amazon Basin alone contains a substantial portion of global terrestrial biodiversity; the Andes host many endemic birds and amphibians, while island biotas of the Caribbean show unique evolution.

Conservation and research: The region faces deforestation, habitat fragmentation, mining, and climate-change impacts. Conservation approaches include protected areas, indigenous-managed lands, ecological restoration, and transnational biodiversity initiatives. Ongoing taxonomy, systematics, and ecological research continue to refine understanding of Neotropical biogeography and evolutionary history.