TARDIGRADA: AUSTRALIA 145 



regions, and also in Canada. M. crassidens is only known in Australia, the Pacific 

 Islands, and Africa ; M.papillifer in Australia, New Zealand and Europe ; M. virgatus 

 in Australia and Canada ; M. rubens in Australia, India, and some islands. 



The list of Australian Tardigrada corresponds with those of other regions in the 

 following proportions: Of the 31 species, 18 are known also in Europe, 16 in the 

 Oceanic Islands, 15 in the Arctic, 14 in N. America, 13 in New Zealand, 12 in 

 Asia and Africa, 7 in S. America and the Arctic. 



That there is so nearly the same degree of correspondence with such diverse 

 regions as New Zealand, Canada, Asia, and Africa, is an indication of how little 

 proximity counts in determining relationship, and the number of rare species which 

 are common to Australia and various distant countries gives some idea of the com- 

 plexity of the problem of the origin of the Tardigrade fauna of any one land. 



One-sixth of all the species are peculiar to Australia. This is a large proportion, 

 but a greater number of species, and a much higher proportion of them, are peculiar 

 to Canada. The degree of peculiarity is much higher in Australia than in Canada, 

 as the list includes one new genus, and the species are more strongly marked ones. 

 It is evident that at the present time we know far too little to come to any definite 

 conclusions as to the origin of the Australian Tardigrada, and their interrelationships 

 with those of other countries. 



BRIT. ANTARCT. EXPBD. 1907~9. VOL. I. 



