Abstract
The water mite subfamily Notoaturinae Besch has a typical Gondwanan distribution, with 9 genera in Australia, 3 genera in Chile, 2 genera in South Africa and one in East Africa (Cook 1986, 1988, 1998, Smit 2010). Remarkably, the genus is lacking in New Guinea and New Caledonia as both islands have a typical Australasian water mite fauna (Wiles 1997, Smit 2002, 2009, 2011, 2013). New Zealand has a very rich notoaturine water mite fauna. Thus far, the following 19 genera are known from New Zealand (Cook 1983, 1991, Pesic et al. 2010): Abelaturus Cook, 1983, Bleptaturus Cook, 1991, Canterburaturus Pesic & Smit, 2010, Colobaturus Cook, 1991, Evidaturus Cook, 1983, Hestaturus Cook, 1991, Kritaturus Cook, 1983, Neotryssaturus Cook, 1974, Omegaturus Cook, 1983, Paratryssaturus Imamura, 1979, Pilosaturus Cook, 1983, Piotaturus Cook, 1983, Planaturus Cook, 1983, Pseudotryssaturus Cook, 1983, Taintaturus Cook, 1983, Tryssaturopsis Cook, 1974, Tryssaturus Hopkins, 1967, Uralbia Hopkins, 1967 and Zelandalbia Imamura, 1978. The water mite fauna of streams in New Zealand consists for a large part of notoaturine water mites. Especially members of the genus Pseudotryssaturus Cook are abundant (Cook 1983).