Note on the Distribution of Some Terrestrial Tardigrades or Water-Bears in the Coastal Region of Kanagawa Prefecture

This short report deals with the distribution of four genera of terrestrial tardigrades, Echiniscus, Macrobiotus, Hypsibius and Milnesium, inhabiting mosses and fallen leaves of bamboo grass in the coastal region of Kanagawa Prefecture. The samples were collected from various places at 30 stations, for example, forests, gardens, shrines, temples, rooftops of buildings, roadsides, parking-places, walls, cliffs and so on. From 18 stations, these tardigrades were found. Result of the study shows that they may be widely distributed in this region and common in much urbanized area, such as Yokohama, affected by pollution