Kingdom Animalia, phylum Gastrotricha (hairy-bellied worms)

The New Zealand Gastrotricha fauna is effectively unknown (Table 10.1; Fig. 10.1). The total number of recorded taxa from the Aotearoa New Zealand region is four genera and four undescribed species from the order Macrodasyida, and one undescribed specimen from the order Chaetonotida (fam., genus et sp. indet.; Table 10.1). In addition, there are over 330 specimens of unidentified Gastrotricha collected from New Zealand. The discovery rate, rate of description, and increase in our knowledge of gastrotrich diversity for New Zealand waters has remained unchanged during the last two decades (since Sterrer 2009). A checklist of New Zealand Gastrotricha is provided.