allopatric

[al-uh-pa-trik]

adjective

Biology, Ecology.

1. originating in or occupying different geographical areas.

allopatric

/ ˌæləˈpætrɪk /

adjective

1. (of biological speciation or species) taking place or existing in areas that are geographically separated from one another Compare sympatric

allopatric

1. Occurring in separate, nonoverlapping geographic areas. Allopatric populations of related organisms are unable to interbreed because of geographic separation.

2. ◆ The development of new species as a result of the geographic separation of populations is called allopatric speciation.

3. Compare sympatric

Other Word Forms

• allopatrically adverb
• allopatry noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of allopatric¹

1940–45; allo- + Greek patr ( ía ) fatherland ( patḗr father + -ia noun suffix) + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of allopatric¹

C20: from _allo- + -patric, from Greek patris native land

Example Sentences

The students suggested these factors: natural selection, morphological mutations, punctuated equilibrium and allopatric speciation.

Read more on Washington Post

One was the alarm cry of an allopatric chestnut-rumped thornbill, a bird not native to Australia.

Read more on Seattle Times

Perhaps the title should have something to do with allopatric speciation as well as just the numbers of the pigeons.

Read more on New York Times

Needless to say, if the structures evolved in allopatric species, they’re redundant within the context of the species recognition hypothesis and can’t be used as evidence in its support.

Read more on Scientific American

According to this scenario, allopatric divergence may have been followed repeatedly by genomic homogenization in sympatry.

Read more on Nature