Australasia- Radiated Tortoise

I think the Galapagos would be included under Ecuador (harking back, however, to the sore heads over the Canary Islands being placed under Africa rather than the political Spain ).

One of us will need to go to Easter Island I guess....

Don't look at me - I'm in Niue again.

Chlidonias said:

the name dates from the 18th century and basically means "south of Asia" (from Latin australis)

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Thank you Childonias. This makes indeed sense.

Still, it is not completely satisfying. In this case, we must consider Africa and its surrounding Islands as Australeuropa in future, don't we? (I couldn't resist, sorry)

yes, if one knows the etymology of the word one can see that it actually specifically excludes Asia rather than being some sort of combination of Australia and Asia.

And it would be handy if there was a single word that encompassed Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarenes, the Canaries and the sundry other island groups in the vicinity. That's what makes Australasia such a useful term.

Africeania?

Or Afrislandia? (the 's' is silent)

BeardsleyZooFan said:

July 5, 2012: There is a nice sized group of about 6-8 Radiated Tortoises that are oddly placed in the Australian/Southeast Asian section of the zoo.

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They are left over from the zoo's now closed and demolished Madagascar exhibit area.