In context ofbiogeography,Neotropic orNeotropical means one of the world's eight terrestrialecozones.
This ecozone includes South andCentral America, theMexican lowlands, theCaribbean islands, and southernFlorida, because these regions share a large number of plant and animal groups.
It is sometimes used as a synonym for the tropical area ofSouth America, although the ecozone also includes temperate southern South America. Its fauna and flora are distinct from theNearctic (which includes most ofNorth America) because of the long separation of the two continents. The formation of theIsthmus of Panama joined the two continents 2 to 3 million years ago.
The Neotropic includes more tropicalrainforest than any other ecozone. They extend from southern Mexico through Central America and northern South America to southernBrazil and include theAmazon Rainforest. These rainforest ecoregions are one of the most important reserves ofbiodiversity onEarth. Extensivedeforestation in the late20th century has reduced this diversity to a degree.
