Differences Between Continental & Oceanic Islands
Continental islands lie close to continents in shallow water
They have usually been connected to a continent in the last 20,000 years
They support a fauna and flora that is similar to that of the adjacent continent, although reduced in numbers of species.
Once they become separated islands tend to start to lose species.
Endemic species are rare.
Oceanic islands lie in deep water, often at considerable distances from a continent.
They have never been connected to a continent.
Plants and animals have to get to them across open water.
They support only those groups that can cross the oceans.
Many groups of organisms, e.g.. fresh water fish, may be absent.
Remote oceanic islands are centres of speciation and contain may support endemics.