Author(s): Hölzel, H. & Ohm, P.
Title: Patterns in the distribution of Afrotropical Chrysopidae
Year: 2002
Volume: 48
Pages: 121-140.
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Abstract: Africa south of the Sahara has a comparatively rich fauna of Chrysopidae. Approximately 180 species in 26 genera have so far been recorded from the Afrotropical Region. The distribution of animals and plants on the continent is defined by the extensive area of lowland rainforest that covers West and Central Africa along the equator. This practically forms a barrier that divides the continent into two different savannah areas. Other important biomes are the isolated montane forests of East and Southeast Africa and three large arid areas: The Sudanese, the Somali and the Southwest arid zones include several important centres for insect distribution. About 100 species of the family occur in South and East Africa of which more than 40 have only been found in South Africa; 37 species and subspecies are probably endemic to the Madagascan subregion. The chrysopid fauna of the arid and semiarid parts of West Africa is rather poor, while the probably rich fauna of the West African rainforest and the West African savannahs is scarcely known.
Keywords: distribution, Chrysopidae, Afrotropical Region, biogeography
Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Matskási, I., Peregovits, L. & Sziráki, Gy.