Palaearctic region

faunal region

Also known as: Old World region, Palearctic region

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July 2, 2026

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The Palaearctic region is a biogeographic area defined by its distinct animal life. It encompasses Europe, Asia north of the Himalayas, northern Arabia, and Africa north of the Sahara. This region is also referred to as the "Old World Holarctic".12

The Palaearctic region is one of the major land areas recognized by animal geographers and is often combined with the Nearctic region (North America) to form the larger Holarctic region. This combination is due to a historical land bridge that once connected Siberia and Alaska, allowing for faunal interchange.31

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Asia
The Palearctic region
A distinction can be made between the animal life of the tundra in the north and that of the adjacent taiga farther south. The taiga in turn merges into the steppes, which have their own distinctive forms of animal life. Finally, the faunas…
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A distinction can be made between the animal life of the tundra in the north and that of the adjacent taiga farther south. The taiga in turn merges into the steppes, which have their own distinctive forms of animal life. Finally, the faunas…
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Holarctic region
…is often subdivided into the Palaearctic (Old World) and Nearctic (New World) subregions. The vegetational divisions roughly corresponding to this region are the Boreal and Palaeotropical (in part) kingdoms. The animals and plants of the region include a vast array of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
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…is often subdivided into the Palaearctic (Old World) and Nearctic (New World) subregions. The vegetational divisions roughly corresponding to this region are the Boreal and Palaeotropical (in part) kingdoms. The animals and plants of the region include a vast array of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
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