ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses biogeographical regionalizations, illustrating most of the proposed schemes. Engler provided a phytogeographical regionalization of the world, recognizing the Holarctic, South American, Paleotropical and Old Oceanic kingdoms. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, several studies based on South American plants and invertebrates suggested a more restrictive definition of the Neotropical region. Moreira-Munoz provided a review of different biogeographical classifications and especially discussed the recognition of an Austral kingdom. Several proposals recognized subregions, dominions, provinces and other units within the Andean region. Ringuelet published an essay on several issues of the zoogeography of Argentina in which he highlighted the relevance of considering both ecological and historical criteria when regionalizing an area. Rivas-Martinez and Navarro recognized a Neotropical-Austroamerican kingdom. They recognized 49 provinces, which they classified into subkingdoms and regions. The Neotropical subkingdom included the Caribbeo-Mexican region, Colombian-Mesoamerican region, Venezuelan region, Amazonian region, Brazilian-Parana region, Andean region, Chacoan region and Peruvian Pacific Desert region.
