The Geographical Distribution of Animals (Vol.1&2‪)‬

"The Geographical Distribution of Animals" in 2 volumes is one of the best-known works by Alfred Russel Wallace. Extending the system developed by the British zoologist Philip Sclater for birds – which divided the earth into six separate geographic regions for describing species distribution – to cover mammals, reptiles and insects as well, Wallace created the basis for the zoogeographic regions still in use today. He discussed all of the factors then known to influence the current and past geographic distribution of animals within each geographic region, and provided maps showing factors, such as elevation of mountains, depths of oceans, and the character of regional vegetation, that affected the distribution of animals. Wallace summarized all the known families and genera of the higher animals and listed their known geographic distributions.

Volume 1:

The Principles and General Phenomena of Distribution:

Introductory

The Means of Dispersal and the Migrations of Animals

On Zoological Region…

Classification as Affecting the Study of Geographical Distribution

On the Distribution of Extinct Animals:

The Extinct Mammalia of the Old World

Extinct Mammalia of the New World

Various Extinct Animals…

Zoological Geography:

The Order of Succession of the Regions…

The Palæarctic Region

The Ethiopian Region

The Oriental Region

The Australian Region

Volume 2:

The Neotropical Region

The Nearctic Region

Summary of the Past Changes and General Relations of the Several Regions

Geographical Zoology:

Introduction

The Distribution of the Families and Genera of Mammalia

The Distribution of the Families and Genera of Birds

The Distribution of the Families and Genera of Reptiles and Amphibia

The Distribution of the Families of Fishes…

The Distribution of Some of the More Important Families and Genera of Insects

An Outline of the Geographical Distribution of Mollusca

Summary of the Distribution and Lines of Migration of the Several Classes of Animals…