Biogeographic regions of N orth A merican mammals based on endemism

Since the 19th Century, two regions have been recognized for N orth A merican mammals, which overlap in M exico. The N earctic region corresponds to the northern areas and the N eotropical region corresponds to the southern ones. There are no recent regionalizations for these regions under the criterion of endemism. In the present study, we integrate two methods to regionalize N orth A merica, using species distribution models of mammals: endemicity analysis ( EA ) and parsimony analysis of endemicity ( PAE ). EA was used to obtain areas of endemism and PAE was used to hierarchize them. We found 76 consensus areas from 329 sets classified in 146 cladograms, and the strict consensus cladogram shows a basal polytomy with 14 areas and 16 clades. The final regionalization recognizes two regions ( N earctic and N eotropical) and a transition zone ( M exican T ransition Z one), six subregions ( C anadian, A lleghanian, C alifornian‐ R ocky M ountain, P acific C entral A merica, M exican G ulf‐ C entral A merica, and C entral A merica), two dominions ( C alifornian and R ocky M ountain), and 23 provinces. Our analysis show that N orth A merica is probably more complex than previously assumed. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2013, 110 , 485–499.