Andes' Formation Was A 'Species Pump' For South America
Friday, January 9, 2009 - 10:16
in Paleontology & Archaeology
South America is the world’s most species-rich area. There have been many theories as to why, ranging from animals and plants accompanying the continent when it broke loose from Africa to variations in the extent of the rainforests over millions of years creating new species. New research supports the theory that the formation of the Andes was a species pump which spread animals and plants across the continent.