Biogeographic units in the Chihuahuan Desert: Implications for regionalization and area nomenclature

Abstract

There are several biogeographic regionalizations of the Chihuahuan Desert province, which differ in the criteria used, and the names and categories given to the different units recognized. We compared maps of these biogeographic regionalizations, detecting similarities and differences in the units recognized, and searched endemic taxa diagnosing them. Eight biotic units are recognized and named: Chihuahuan Desert province, Chihuahuan subprovince (Trans-Pecos and Mapimian districts), and Mexican Plateau subprovince (Saladan, Mexican Southern Arid district and Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley districts). These subprovinces and districts are hypothesized to represent natural biotic units, each harboring a particular assemblage of endemic taxa.