Wallace's line

American  

noun

Zoogeography.

1. an imaginary line that separates the Oriental and Australian zoogeographical regions and passes between Bali and Lombok, west of Sulawesi, and east of the Philippines.

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Wallace's line British  

noun

1. the hypothetical boundary between the Oriental and Australasian zoogeographical regions, which runs between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok, through the Macassar Strait, and SE of the Philippines

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Etymology

Origin of Wallace's line

First recorded in 1865–70; after A. R. Wallace

Example Sentences

What is known as Wallace's line corresponds with the deep channel running between the islands of Bali and Lombok and continuing northwards to the west of Celebes.

From Anthropology by Marett, R. R. (Robert Ranulph)

Wallace's line was barely formed when, at ten o'clock, Gladden's brigade, now commanded by Colonel Adams, moved again against Prentiss.

From From Fort Henry to Corinth by Force, M. F. (Manning Ferguson)

Woodpeckers, however, have crossed Wallace's line into Celebes and adjacent islands, and may yet reach Australia naturally.

From An Australian Bird Book A Pocket Book for Field Use by Leach, John Albert

Celebes, Papua, and the other islands east of Java beyond Wallace’s line fall within the Australian region.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various

One of these has spread across Wallace's line to the small Kangean Island, near Java.

From An Australian Bird Book A Pocket Book for Field Use by Leach, John Albert