THE BIOGEOGRAPHIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE NEW GUINEA SPHINGIDAE (LEPIDOPTERA)

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Abstract
From studies of coefficients of faunal resemblance it appears that the sphingid fauna of New Guinea is of Oriental origin but more closely related to the fauna of Australia than south‐east Asia. This resemblance is seen to be due to faunal rarefaction along the distribution gradient from the centre of sphingid radiation (Indo‐China) to Australia/New Guinea and by secondary radiation in the latter area. This movement of sphingids was probably in the Pleistocene through Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and the Lesser Sunda Islands. An earlier (Miocene) invasion also of Oriental origin may explain the origin of the endemic Australian genera.