PART III 



ANTARCTIC KOTIFERA 



BY JAMES MURRAY 



AMONG the various forms of freshwater life the Rotifera were most conspicuous. 

 They were found among mosses and in the lakes and ponds. In the former situation 

 they were relatively scarce, while in the lakes they were extremely abundant, and 

 were often associated in such numbers as to affect the colour of the water. 



Some sixteen species were distinguished, representing three of the recognised 

 orders, and five or six distinct families. The predominance of the Rotifera was 

 entirely due to the Bdelloida, of which a dozen species were found. In the other 

 orders there were only one or two members of each family present. 



Five of the Bdelloids are species previously unknown. Most of the others differ 

 more or less from the types of their species. Only two non-Bdelloids species were 

 recognised (Hydatina senta and Diaschiza tenuior), the others were only assigned to 

 their genera. No Rotifera were found in the sea. 



I have been able to find no record of any species of rotifers found on the Antarctic 

 Continent or on any of the islands which, though lying outside the Antarctic Circle, 

 possess a polar climate. The German Expedition found Rotifers on the Gaussberg, 

 just on the Antarctic Circle (Richters, 31) ; * the Swedish Expedition obtained them 

 at Snow Hill Island, not far from the Circle (Richters, 32), and the Scottish Expedi- 

 tion at the South Orkneys, a little farther north (Murray, 26). t All of these were 

 unrecognisable. 



The only species doubtfully identified from this whole great area is Callidina 

 papillosa, Thomp. (40). Richters found an egg in moss from the Gaussberg which 

 resembled the egg of C. papillosa figured by Jansou (20). The identification of this 

 egg can never be certain, as there are several other Bdelloids which have similar eggs, 

 covered with blunt processes. 



To find definite records of Rotifera in the southern hemisphere we must go far 



* Figures in heavy type enclosed in brackets refer to list of books at the end of the paper. 

 t The Rotifer vulgaris casually recorded in that paper must be regarded with doubt. As all the others 

 were dead, it had probably been accidentally introduced into the bottle. 



BRIT. ANTARCT. KXPED. 1907-9. VOL. I. PART 3, ISSUED APRIL 1910 F 



