Changes in climate are thought to be the driving force in creating paleoendemic species, generally due to habitat loss. Regions where the climate has remained relatively stable form
refugia which are more likely to be endemic hotspots today. This applies to both neoendemism and paleoendemism. However, paleoendemism differs as it does not require additional factors such as barriers and ecological opportunities as it does not rely on
adaptive radiation like neoendemism does. The two terms can essentially be defined as "cradles" of new species (neoendemism), or "museums" of old species (paleoendemism). However, in order to be considered a paleoendemic on an island, the species must have had a widespread distribution previously, thus eliminating newly formed islands as potential refuges of paleo-endemics. == Examples ==