DISTRIBUTION OF POLYCHAETES WITHIN THE INDO-PACIFIC 405 



In assembling the records synonymies were eliminated as far as 

 possible and doubtful species were omitted. From the records a dis- 

 tribution table was prepared. \Mien completed the list contained 1,367 

 names. Table I shows the number of species recorded in the more 

 important Families from the above areas. 



The majority of the species belong to the families Polynoidae, 

 Nereidae, and Eunicidae. The abundance of representatives of the 

 Family Eunicidae in tropical waters has often been commented upon 

 and is confirmed by the results of this survey. Thirty-three species are 

 recorded from Fiji-Samoa, 20 from Northern New Zealand, 16 from 

 Southern New Zealand, while only four have been recorded from the 

 Sub-Antarctic Islands. 



From the general distribution table a second table (Table II) was 

 prepared to show the number of species common to each two of the 

 24 divisions. For the purposes of this table cosmopolitan species have 

 been neglected. 



A study of this table shows that areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 23 

 have a large number of species in common, indicating a large Indo-Ma- 

 layan element. The Pacific Islands show affinities both with Australia 

 and Indo-Malaya. The New Zealand area has many species in common 

 with Australia, especially the southern and eastern coasts. The tropical 

 coasts of Australia show strong affinity with the Indo-Malayan region as 

 well as relationships with the temperate Australian regions. Kerguelen 

 has 14 species in common with Southern New Zealand and only three 

 that are also found in the Indian Ocean. 



In order to gain a clearer picture of the distribution it was decided 

 after an examination of the general distribution table to divide the 

 species into a number of groups and plot their occurrence in each area 

 (Table III). The groups of species recognized are as follows: 



1. Cosmopolitan. 



2. Endemic. 



3. Circum-tropical. 



4. Indian. Species characteristic of areas 1, 2, 3, 4, and 23. 



5. Malayan. 



6. Indo-Malayan. 



7. Japanese. 



8. Northern Pacific. 



9. Indo-Pacific. Species ranging throughout areas 1-23 but not ex- 



tending to tropical America or Antarctica. 



10. Tropical Pacific. 



11. Australasian. 



12. New Zealand. 



13. Antarctic. 



