ABSTRACT
This chapter characterizes the Patagonian subregion and the single province recognized within it, provides their endemic and characteristic taxa and discusses their relationships. Within the Patagonian province, it recognizes five subprovinces and seven districts and characterizes their vegetation. The Patagonian province covers southern Argentina, from central Mendoza to southern Santa Cruz, and southeastern Chile, including the northern half of the island of Tierra del Fuego. The Patagonian province consists of shrub steppes, grasslands and deserts. Morrone et al. conducted a track analysis of Coleoptera species of the Central Patagonia province. A review of several phylogeographical analyses of plant and vertebrate taxa revealed some congruent patterns, suggesting Neogene and Quaternary geological events driving the biotic evolution of the Patagonian province. The chapter also discusses a case study referring to the areas of endemism of the province based on insect taxa.
