Key features: The first reference book to provide a comprehensive treatment of the biogreography of the Andean region Includes lists of the synonyms for each area and examples of the plant and animal taxa characterizing them. An extensive reference section serves as an entry point for more in-depth research on individual subjects Discusses the relationships between the areas, formulating hypotheses explaining the relationships of different biotas, based on track and cladistic biogeographic analyses Identifies cenocrons that were assembled in the different biotas Contains maps that illustrate the distribution of particular taxa, area cladograms and vegetation profiles This book presents a regionalization of the Andean region, based on an evolutionary biogeographic approach. Aimed at anyone wishing to understand biogeographic patterns of distribution of Andean plants and animals, the book provides a comprehensive treatment of three subregions, one transition zone, and 16 provinces. Lists of the synonyms and examples of taxa characterizing each area are given, and the relationships between the areas discussed, alongside hypotheses explaining the assembly of different biotas. Several maps illustrate the distribution of particular taxa, as well as area cladograms, diagrams and full-color vegetation profiles.