Rapoport's rule

proper noun

An ecogeographical rule stating that latitudinal ranges of plants and animals are generally smaller at lower latitudes than at higher latitudes.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. An ecogeographical rule stating that latitudinal ranges of plants and animals are generally smaller at lower latitudes than at higher latitudes.

Origin

Named by Stevens (1989) after Eduardo H. Rapoport, who had earlier provided evidence for the phenomenon for subspecies of mammals.

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Cite this entry
APA

Rapoport's rule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rapoport's%20rule

MLA

“Rapoport's rule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rapoport's%20rule. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Rapoport's rule,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rapoport's%20rule.

Source: Rapoport's rule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.