Biantitropical distribution
Encyclopedia
Biantitropical distribution refers to the pattern of species
that exist at comparable latitudes across the equator
but not in the tropics
. For example, a species may be found north of the Tropic of Cancer
and south of the Tropic of Capricorn
, but not in between. This usually has to do with the optimal temperature for the species existing at both latitudes. How the life forms distribute themselves to the opposite hemisphere when they can't normally survive in the middle depends on the species; plants may have their seed spread through wind, animal, or other methods and then germinate upon reaching the appropriate climate, while sea life may be able to travel through the tropical regions in a larval state or by going through deep ocean currents with much colder temperatures than on the surface.
Examples of species with biantitropical distribution include:
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
that exist at comparable latitudes across the equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
but not in the tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
. For example, a species may be found north of the Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern tropic, is the circle of latitude on the Earth that marks the most northerly position at which the Sun may appear directly overhead at its zenith...
and south of the Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five...
, but not in between. This usually has to do with the optimal temperature for the species existing at both latitudes. How the life forms distribute themselves to the opposite hemisphere when they can't normally survive in the middle depends on the species; plants may have their seed spread through wind, animal, or other methods and then germinate upon reaching the appropriate climate, while sea life may be able to travel through the tropical regions in a larval state or by going through deep ocean currents with much colder temperatures than on the surface.
Examples of species with biantitropical distribution include:
- Phacilia crenulata - scorpionweed
- Bowlesia incanaBowlesia incanaBowlesia incana is a species of flowering plant in the parsley family known by the common name hoary bowlesia. It is native to South America and the southeastern and southwestern United States as far north as Oregon. It can also be found in Pakistan and New Zealand as an introduced species. It...
- American Bowlesia - Scylla serrataScylla serrataScylla serrata is an economically important crab species found in the estuaries and mangroves of Africa, Australia and Asia. In their most common form, the shell colour varies from a deep, mottled green to very dark brown...
- mud crab - Freshwater crayfishCrayfishCrayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
- Ground beetle genus BembidionBembidionBembidion is the largest genus of beetles in the family Carabidae by number of species. There have been many attempts to divide it into smaller genera, most notably by René Jeannel in 1941 and by G.G. Perrault in 1981, but none of them has been generally accepted. All species are small and move...