FAUPJA AND FLORA O F MANGROVE SWAMPS
231
The shore fauna and flora of this area seem to have been little
Btudied. This division has been established here as a result of its
apparent isolation from the other regions but it must be considered to
be tentative.
The genus of Bombacaceae, Camptostemon, gives some floristic
justification for this region. According to Troll (1933a) the species C.
schulzii Mast. is restricted to the Moluccas, New Guinea and adjacent
islands, and northern Australia, i.e. the edge of Sahul ; the C. philippinensis (Vid.) Becc. is similarly restricted to eastern Borneo, Celebes
and the Philippines, i.e. the western edge of the deep channel lying
between Sundaland and Sahul.
5. Division 6. New Guinea and Queensland
The sixth division is one in which the fauna of the northern section
shows a distinct affinity with the " central widespread fauna " but in
which toward its southern limits several typically Australian species
become common. These include Cleistostoma macneilli and C. wardi
and Helice crassa.
Crabs of widespread occurrence include Helice leachii, Sesarma
meinerti and 8. srnithii, Uca bellator, U . coarctata, U . dussumieri and
U . luctea. Several of the smaller sesarmas, S. (Chiromantes) brevicristatum, 8. (C.) messa, S. (C.) lividum and 8. (C.) semperi subsp.
longicristatunz have been described as new by Campbell (1967) and may
be presumed to be more or less restricted to this area.
One of the most characteristic crabs of this region is Heloecius
cordiforrnis which would seem to be close to the ocypodid stem from
which fiddler crabs of the genus Uca are sprung. It has two symmetrical chelipeds and shows a display pattern of the same basic type
as that of the fiddler crabs. Euplax tridentata is another ocypodid
restricted to this division.
Several species of gastropods of the genus Bembicium are conspicuous in the seaward fringes.
While the African mangrove fauna and the northeastern mangrove
fauna extend far beyond the limits of mangrove trees, in Australia the
animals of the mangal fall out before the mangrove trees themselves.
The fauna of the Solomon Islands, New Britain, the New Hebrides
and New Caledonia shows a strong similarity to this region-at least so
far as I have been able to trace records.
6. Division 7. Lesser Xunda Islands and Western Australia
This is a division with poor mangals-not in number of species but
in development. Much of the area has less rain than any of the other
231
The shore fauna and flora of this area seem to have been little
Btudied. This division has been established here as a result of its
apparent isolation from the other regions but it must be considered to
be tentative.
The genus of Bombacaceae, Camptostemon, gives some floristic
justification for this region. According to Troll (1933a) the species C.
schulzii Mast. is restricted to the Moluccas, New Guinea and adjacent
islands, and northern Australia, i.e. the edge of Sahul ; the C. philippinensis (Vid.) Becc. is similarly restricted to eastern Borneo, Celebes
and the Philippines, i.e. the western edge of the deep channel lying
between Sundaland and Sahul.
5. Division 6. New Guinea and Queensland
The sixth division is one in which the fauna of the northern section
shows a distinct affinity with the " central widespread fauna " but in
which toward its southern limits several typically Australian species
become common. These include Cleistostoma macneilli and C. wardi
and Helice crassa.
Crabs of widespread occurrence include Helice leachii, Sesarma
meinerti and 8. srnithii, Uca bellator, U . coarctata, U . dussumieri and
U . luctea. Several of the smaller sesarmas, S. (Chiromantes) brevicristatum, 8. (C.) messa, S. (C.) lividum and 8. (C.) semperi subsp.
longicristatunz have been described as new by Campbell (1967) and may
be presumed to be more or less restricted to this area.
One of the most characteristic crabs of this region is Heloecius
cordiforrnis which would seem to be close to the ocypodid stem from
which fiddler crabs of the genus Uca are sprung. It has two symmetrical chelipeds and shows a display pattern of the same basic type
as that of the fiddler crabs. Euplax tridentata is another ocypodid
restricted to this division.
Several species of gastropods of the genus Bembicium are conspicuous in the seaward fringes.
While the African mangrove fauna and the northeastern mangrove
fauna extend far beyond the limits of mangrove trees, in Australia the
animals of the mangal fall out before the mangrove trees themselves.
The fauna of the Solomon Islands, New Britain, the New Hebrides
and New Caledonia shows a strong similarity to this region-at least so
far as I have been able to trace records.
6. Division 7. Lesser Xunda Islands and Western Australia
This is a division with poor mangals-not in number of species but
in development. Much of the area has less rain than any of the other