Parapatric Speciation

Parapatric Speciation

In biogeography, parapatry is the relationship between organisms whose ranges do not significantly overlap but are immediately adjacent to each other; they only occur together in a narrow contact zone. This geographical distribution is opposed to sympatry (same area) and allopatry or peripatry (two cases of distinct areas).

This distribution may cause speciation into sister species over time, a process called parapatric speciation.