Origin of ancient endemism in the "Lost World" table mountains, and its bearing on South American biodiversity Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The northwest corner of South America harbours a region of spectacular and mysterious landscapes called Pantepui. Due to its ancient age and fragmented topography Pantepui has been assumed to be an ideal nursery of speciation, and tepuis (table mountains) have been seen as potential inland counterparts to oceanic islands. Tepuis are often called 'islands in the sky' and their summits seem indeed ideal candidates to harbour relict species, ...