TARDIGRADA: NEW ZEALAND 115 



This is one of the most interesting species found in New Zealand. Its distribution 

 is peculiar. So far as our knowledge goes it is solely a southern species. It is found 

 in a number of islands in the Cape Horn region, from Tierra del Fuego to the 

 Antarctic Continent at Graham Land (Richters, 38). It was discovered by the 

 Scottish Expedition in the South Orkneys. New Zealand is the lowest latitude 

 recorded for it. Its known range is from about 36'30 S. (near Auckland, N.Z.) 

 almost to the Antarctic Circle. 



It has been considered as a southern representative of M. hufelandii. In most 

 of the localities it is not associated with that species it takes its place only in 

 New Zealand and Tierra del Fuego have the two species been found together. A 

 peculiarity in its distribution is its absence from the Victoria Land region of the 

 Antarctic, though it is so abundant on the other side of the continent. 



Macrobiotus echinogenitus, Richters (27) 



In the South Island only. As we learn more about Tardigrada it appears that 

 there are several species which have stellate eggs, more or less resembling those of 

 M. echinogenitus, some of them probably not to be distinguished from them unless 

 they contain well grown embryos. The separation of some of these (for example, 

 M. areolatus and M. harmsivorthi) makes it easier to understand M. echinogenitus 

 itself, which formerly seemed to vary to such an extent that it was difficult to get a 

 clear conception of it. M. areolatus, and some related species not yet described, 

 have eggs the surface of which is reticulate. The shells are double-skinned and the 

 space between is divided by septa into hexagonal chambers. From these hexagons 

 the processes spring, at such distance apart that they are always separated by the 

 width of one cell. 



M. harmsivorthi has the egg processes close together, and the claws united as 

 in M. hufelandii (Richters). The true M. echinogenitus has the egg-shell without 

 reticulation, the conical processes almost or quite close together, and the claws 

 joined at the bases only. Further study is necessary to clear up the whole group 

 satisfactorily (see p. 89, footnote). 



Macrobiotus harmsworthi, Murray (19) 



South Island and Stewart Island. The egg cannot be distinguished from some 

 forms of those of M. echinogenitus. In examples from the Mount Cook district the 

 identity was established by finding eggs in the body, which, when freed from the 

 enclosing membrane, showed the dose-set acuminate processes. 



