Australasian realm

[1] In the classification scheme developed by Miklos Udvardy, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and New Zealand are placed in the Oceanian realm.

[2][3] From an ecological perspective the Australasian realm is a distinct region, parts of which have a common geologic and evolutionary history.

The entire area has experienced a long period of biological isolation from other regions, and thus harbors a great many unique plants and animals.

Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia are all fragments of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, the marks of which are still visible in the Christmas Island Seamount Province and other geophysical entities.

Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania are separated from one another by shallow continental shelves, and were linked together when the sea level was lower during ice ages.