ANTARCTIC BENTHOS
135
Antarctic Subregion
I. QLACIAL SUBREGION
1. Continental Province
(a) East Antarctic District
( b ) West Antarctic District
2. South Georgian Province
11. KERQUELEN SUBREGION
The Antarctic Region includes the shelf and slope of the Antarctic
Continent " and the islands lying to the south of and near the Antarctic
Convergence ". Some 39 genera with 94 species have been recorded
from the Region. Characteristics of the fauna include the overwhelming
preponderance of notothenioid families to which 75% of the species
belong, the complete absence of one notothenioid family, the Bovichthyidae, and the development of a primarily Antarctic suborder of
fishes, the Muraenolepids. Endemism is high, 70% of the genera and
95% of the species being confined to the Region.
The Antarctic Region is divided into a Glacial and a Kerguelen
Subregion, only the first of which concerns us further. The Glacial Subregion includes the coasts of the Antarctic continent and the islands of
the Scotia Arc including South Georgia, and Bouvet Island. The family
Bathydraconidae with 15 species is endemic to the Subregion, as is the
genus Trematomus with 13 species, and Artedidraco with five species.
Ten of the species of Harpagiferidae are characteristic. Only seven of
the 81 species recorded from the Subregion occurred outside its limits.
The Glacial Subregion is divided into two provinces, the Continental
Province and the South Georgian Province.
The Continental Province embraces the coastal waters of the Continent together with the South Shetlands and the South Orkneys.
Eleven genera are endemic for the Province ( Pleuragramma, Dolloidraco,
Pogonophryne, Clerlachea, Racovitza, Prionodraco, Qymnodraco, Pagetopsis, Cryodraco, Chionodraco and Austrolycicthys). Some 67 species are
known, of which 19 are endemic. Andriashev believed that East and
West Antarctica should be separated as two districts of the Continental
Province.
The East-Antarctic District musters 56 species arranged in 25
genera, with more than half the species, and five or six genera, endemic.
The genus Trematomus shows a much greater diversity of species than
does Notothenia. At the same time 40% of the species are also found in
West Antarctica.
The West-Antarctic District has not as yet clear cut boundaries.
135
Antarctic Subregion
I. QLACIAL SUBREGION
1. Continental Province
(a) East Antarctic District
( b ) West Antarctic District
2. South Georgian Province
11. KERQUELEN SUBREGION
The Antarctic Region includes the shelf and slope of the Antarctic
Continent " and the islands lying to the south of and near the Antarctic
Convergence ". Some 39 genera with 94 species have been recorded
from the Region. Characteristics of the fauna include the overwhelming
preponderance of notothenioid families to which 75% of the species
belong, the complete absence of one notothenioid family, the Bovichthyidae, and the development of a primarily Antarctic suborder of
fishes, the Muraenolepids. Endemism is high, 70% of the genera and
95% of the species being confined to the Region.
The Antarctic Region is divided into a Glacial and a Kerguelen
Subregion, only the first of which concerns us further. The Glacial Subregion includes the coasts of the Antarctic continent and the islands of
the Scotia Arc including South Georgia, and Bouvet Island. The family
Bathydraconidae with 15 species is endemic to the Subregion, as is the
genus Trematomus with 13 species, and Artedidraco with five species.
Ten of the species of Harpagiferidae are characteristic. Only seven of
the 81 species recorded from the Subregion occurred outside its limits.
The Glacial Subregion is divided into two provinces, the Continental
Province and the South Georgian Province.
The Continental Province embraces the coastal waters of the Continent together with the South Shetlands and the South Orkneys.
Eleven genera are endemic for the Province ( Pleuragramma, Dolloidraco,
Pogonophryne, Clerlachea, Racovitza, Prionodraco, Qymnodraco, Pagetopsis, Cryodraco, Chionodraco and Austrolycicthys). Some 67 species are
known, of which 19 are endemic. Andriashev believed that East and
West Antarctica should be separated as two districts of the Continental
Province.
The East-Antarctic District musters 56 species arranged in 25
genera, with more than half the species, and five or six genera, endemic.
The genus Trematomus shows a much greater diversity of species than
does Notothenia. At the same time 40% of the species are also found in
West Antarctica.
The West-Antarctic District has not as yet clear cut boundaries.