A proposed biogeographical region comprising Australia and nearby areas, characterized by distinct flora and fauna.
From austro- (southern) + Gaea (Greek goddess of Earth). This term emerged in 19th-century biogeography as scientists classified world regions by biological characteristics.
Biogeographers invented this term before DNA, using just animal and plant distributions—it's like the old-school biology version of a playlist, grouping together creatures that live in the same biological neighborhood.
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