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Lydekker’s Line

faunal boundary

Quick Summary

Lydekker's Line is a biogeographical boundary that separates the Australian faunal region from the Oriental faunal region. Proposed by Richard Lydekker, this line runs along the edge of Australia's continental shelf (the Sahul Shelf). While many zoogeographers no longer consider it a strict regional boundary, it still marks a significant limit for the distribution of numerous animal groups. Many species of fish, birds, and mammals are abundant on one side of Lydekker's Line but are scarce or absent on the other. This line is part of a broader discussion about biogeographic classifications, which help scientists understand evolutionary processes and the impact of geological and climatic factors on species distribution.1234

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