This is how Mayr (Populations, Species and Evolution, 1970) defines "sympatry": "The occurrence of 2 or more populations in the same area; more precisely, the existence of a population in breeding condition within the crusising range of individuals of another population." If this is what sympatric means, then what does syntopic mean? I still don't get it. I have a feeling the 2 terms are used interchangeably by different people. Aydin On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 23:58:36 +1300, Andrew Grebneff <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >Two species living together in the same habitat are sympatric. They >may not share the same microhabitat, but can readily meet in their >daily/nocturnal rounds. >-- >Andrew Grebneff >Dunedin >New Zealand >Fossil preparator ><[log in to unmask]> >Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------