allopatric

American  

[al-uh-pa-trik] / ˌæl əˈpæ trɪk /

adjective

Biology, Ecology.

1. originating in or occupying different geographical areas.

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allopatric British  

/ ˌæləˈpætrɪk /

adjective

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

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allopatric Scientific  

/ ăl′ə-păt′rĭk /

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

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Other Word Forms

• allopatrically adverb
• allopatry noun

Etymology

Origin of allopatric

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

Compare meaning

How does allopatric compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• allopatric vs. sympatric

Example Sentences

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

From Washington Post

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

From Seattle Times

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

From 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.

From Scientific American

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

From Nature