GLOBAL BIOGEOGRAPHY OF MARINE TINTINNIDS

Literature records of tintinnid distributions (272 references, 1899 to 1992) were plotted with a computer. Distributions at the genus level revealed several distinct biogeographic patterns: cosmopolitan, neriti c, warm-water, boreal, and austral. Some of the factors that may accou nt for these patterns are examined. At the species level, certain disj unct distributions are examined, including the bipolar distribution of Acanthostomella norvegica and the interoceanic distributions of tropi cal tintinnids. Endemicism of species within certain genera, such as C odonellopsis, was also found.