The game appears to be following different methods of categorization for continents, which isn't consistent for the entire roster and leads to tagging issues. The biggest issue exists in the differentiation between North, Central and South America, where a different approach has been used at different points in time. In this thread I will analyze and discuss every case and offer solutions.
First, let's start by defining the geographical and geopolitical boundaries of continents/regions in the Americas.
Central America is a geopolitical region (not a continent) that consists of 7 countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. It does not include Mexico or the Caribbean. Those regions are considered to be part of North America, even by geopolitical standards.
Geographically speaking, North America is a continent or subcontinent depending on which convention is used. See link for different methods of classification. The Americas is often divided at the Panama Canal, making Panama a transcontinental country (both in North and South America), but by other standards Panama is considered to be entirely in North America.
In the game we have a category in filters called "South/Central America", which combines a geographical region with a geopolitical region to make a custom tag. Honestly, such custom categorization in a game is perfectly fine, as long as the method is used consistently. For this reason I will be including this method of classification in the discussion for each case below.
Another thing worth mentioning is, I did not include animals like the Jaguar or Red-Eyed Tree Frog in this discussion, as within their own classification system they have accurate tagging. However, if the categorization "South/Central America" or "South America and Central America" is chosen as the universal method of classification in the game, then these animals will also need to be revised.
In addition to animals, some plant assets from the Americas will require reassessment depending on which method is adopted. For now I will not discuss every possibility for each plant asset as I did for the animals, based on each possible scenario. Instead, I will only mention plants that are missing the "North America" or "South America" tags regardless of the method chosen.
First, let's start by defining the geographical and geopolitical boundaries of continents/regions in the Americas.
Central America is a geopolitical region (not a continent) that consists of 7 countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. It does not include Mexico or the Caribbean. Those regions are considered to be part of North America, even by geopolitical standards.
Geographically speaking, North America is a continent or subcontinent depending on which convention is used. See link for different methods of classification. The Americas is often divided at the Panama Canal, making Panama a transcontinental country (both in North and South America), but by other standards Panama is considered to be entirely in North America.
In the game we have a category in filters called "South/Central America", which combines a geographical region with a geopolitical region to make a custom tag. Honestly, such custom categorization in a game is perfectly fine, as long as the method is used consistently. For this reason I will be including this method of classification in the discussion for each case below.
- Amazonian Giant Centipede: As the Zoopedia map shows, the species is present in both South and North America, since its range includes the Caribbean and Central America. Depending on the method chosen, it should be categorized as "South/Central America and North America" or "South America and North America". Currently missing the term North America entirely.
- Baird's Tapir: They are present in both North and South/Central America, as their range includes Mexico. Depending on the method chosen, it should be categorized as "South/Central America and North America" or "South America and North America". Currently missing the term North America entirely, which also affects the plant filters as it is a habitat animal.
- Boa Constrictor: As the Zoopedia distribution map shows, their range does not extend into Central America, but the continents section to the right erroneously includes Central America, when the regions section below it is accurate (countries). This error might be due to the fact that previously Boa imperator was considered to be a subspecies of Boa constrictor, but now they are considered to be separate species. Only Boa imperator is present in Central and North America and one of the sources used for the game could be out of date, which would explain the inconsistency between different subsections within the Zoopedia itself. Depending on the method chosen, it should be categorized as "South/Central America" or just "South America", not "South and Central America".
- Brazilian Wandering Spider: The range map and text in the game is for the entire genus, which is not a big deal, as information/literature on the distribution for each species is quite limited, but what should be consistent is the tagging. The range map includes Central America, but no country from Central America is mentioned in text to the right, nor Central America itself. Central/North America is also missing from the filters when an animal is clicked. Either the map should be changed or the the tags/filters revised. See link for an alternative distribution map - which is also specific to the species Phoneutria nigriventer - the particular species depicted in the game. If the map was changed with this one, filters/tags wouldn't require a revision.
- Colombian White-Faced Capuchin: No matter what in-game method is used, their distribution does not include North America, as their range starts east of the Panama Canal. The regions (countries) section on the other hand is accurate. The inconsistency here is almost identical to the Boa constrictor example, which I believe is a result of the recent taxonomic update. Colombian White-Faced Capuchin and Panamanian White-Faced Capuchin are different species now, when they were considered to be different subspecies of the same species until very recently, leading to this continent tagging error. Depending on the method chosen, it should be categorized as "South/Central America" or just "South America". The category "North America" should be removed.
- Giant Anteater: Their range does not include Mexico, therefore, if the existing "South/Central America" tagging method is chosen, then "North America" should be removed and replaced with "Central America". If the tagging system is going to be overhauled entirely to remove the term "Central" from the "South America" tag, then the category "North America" can be kept. Interestingly, the foliage filters appropriately exclude "North America", unlike some other examples we've seen earlier, which creates another layer of inconsistency in tagging.
- Green Iguana: As the Zoopedia map and text shows, they are present in South, Central and North America (Mexico, Caribbean, Florida). Depending on the method chosen, it should be categorized as "South/Central America and North America" or "South America, Central America and North America" or "South America and North America". Currently it is categorized as "South America and Central America", which is the only combination that isn't accurate (or at least complete). But interestingly, when you click on an animal, the filters (tags) are accurate.
- Lesser Antillean Iguana: As the Zoopedia map and text shows, they are endemic to the Lesser Antilles, which is in the Caribbean. No matter which method is chosen, the only category displayed should be "North America", as the Caribbean is in North America and not South or Central America.
- Mexican Red Knee Tarantula: As their distribution map shows, they are found only in Mexico, therefore should only have the "North America" categorization instead of Central America. When an individual animal is clicked, the filters (tags) specified there are accurate. Examples to compare would be the Gila Monster and Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion, which have proper categorization.
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake: As the Zoopedia map shows, they are found only in North America (USA and Mexico), therefore "Central America" should be removed. When an individual animal is clicked, the filters (tags) specified there are accurate. Examples to compare would be the Gila Monster and Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion, which have proper categorization.
Another thing worth mentioning is, I did not include animals like the Jaguar or Red-Eyed Tree Frog in this discussion, as within their own classification system they have accurate tagging. However, if the categorization "South/Central America" or "South America and Central America" is chosen as the universal method of classification in the game, then these animals will also need to be revised.
In addition to animals, some plant assets from the Americas will require reassessment depending on which method is adopted. For now I will not discuss every possibility for each plant asset as I did for the animals, based on each possible scenario. Instead, I will only mention plants that are missing the "North America" or "South America" tags regardless of the method chosen.
- Bromeliads are found throughout the tropical Americas, including Mexico, the Caribbean and Southern United States, therefore missing the "North America" tag.
- Century Plant (Agave) is native only to North America (Mexico and Texas), but ironically missing the "North America" tag in the game. They have been naturalized in South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, so those tags are also appropriate and do not need to be removed as the game includes naturalized populations in tagging. In addition to these five continents, Europe can also be considered, as they are also naturalized in Southern Europe along the Mediterranean Basin, particularly in Italy and Spain.
- Kapok Trees are also found in the Caribbean and Mexico, therefore missing the "North America" tag no matter which method of classification is adopted for Central America.
- It would be cool to be able to use the South American Fallen Mossy Tree asset in Caribbean and Mexican themed habitats with animals only having the "North America" tag. Despite the name, this asset already has Africa, Asia and Oceania tags, so the "North America" tag would also be appropriate.
- Strangler Fig Tree and root assets are missing the "North America" tag, as the plant is also native to the Caribbean, Mexico and Florida. Even Florida alone is home to several species.
- Both species of Swiss Cheese Plant are native to Mexico and the Caribbean, and naturalized in Florida, therefore missing the "North America" tag.
- Water Hyacinth is native only to the Amazon Basin, but naturalized/invasive (at least since the 1800s) in the United States, Oceania, Asia and Africa, therefore missing the "North America", "Oceania" and "Africa" tags. It already has the "Asia" tag, so no change is needed there.
- Prickly Pears (Opuntia) are also native to South America, including the Galapagos Islands (a favorite of the giant tortoises), therefore missing the "South America" tag.
- Cheetah: As the Zoopedia map shows, the distribution map specified is for the entire species, therefore includes the range of the Asiatic Cheetah. For this reason, both the Zoopedia continents section and the foliage filters/tags are missing Asia. Iran is also missing from the "Regions" section.
- Polar Bear: Another thread by @Aramar discusses this case in detail, therefore I don't think I need to go into much detail here. Reindeer, Siberian Tiger and several plant assets from Siberia already have the Asia tag, which is a clear sign that the game prioritizes geographical categorization over political. Even the Zoopedia clearly shows their range in Asia.
- Puff Adder: As their Zoopedia map and text shows, they are also found in the Southern Middle East, therefore missing the Asia categorization and filters/tags when an animal is clicked.
- Southern Cassowary: Depending on how you categorize the Maluku Islands (several islands between Sulawesi and New Guinea), the Southern Cassowary can be considered a transcontinental species, so there's no problem there. However, "South East Asia" is not a continent, so that either needs to be changed with "Asia" or removed.
- West African Lion: The Zoopedia displays the distribution map of all subspecies/populations combined, which includes the Gir Forest population in India. However, in text only distribution of the West African population is mentioned. Asia needs to be added to the categories and foliage filters if the map is intended, or if text is intended, the map needs to be revised. See link.
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