Specimens of the vestimentiferan tubeworm Lamellibrachia sp. were collected from the wreck of the SS ‘Persia’ at 2800 m depth south-east of Crete, in association with decomposing paper in the ship's mailroom. Anaerobic breakdown of cellulose by bacterial consortia including sulphate-reducers is proposed as the source of sulphide required by Lamellibrachia's chemoautotrophic symbionts. Timing of wreck colonization is unknown but observed tube dimensions suggest growth rates at least equal to those measured for Lamellibrachia luymesi at Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon seeps. The organic substrate supporting vestimentiferan growth in the ‘Persia’ is remarkable in consisting of highly refractory, human-modified terrestrial plant material. This record therefore expands the range of energy sources known to support chemosynthetic communities at the deep-sea floor.

At Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in the tropical West Atlantic, spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) regularly congregate in a shallow bay where they engage in resting, social, and eliminative behaviours. The dolphins' congregation allowed underwater observations from close quarters of the whalesucker (Remora australis), an open-water fish species found attached to cetaceans only and whose habits remain thus poorly known. Whalesuckers were recorded year-round on the Fernando de Noronha spinners. Estimated size-range of whalesuckers in 211 records was 4–52 cm in total length (TL). Number of fish per dolphin was 1–3, the most frequently recorded attachment place being the host's belly (78.2%). Ratio of whalesuckers to spinner dolphins was 1–1.8 (mean = 1.32; SD ± 0.47) over one year. Juvenile, recently recruited individuals (less than 10 cm TL) were recorded year-round. Whalesuckers occasionally fed on dolphin faeces, and thus would also be able to feed on plankton while riding the spinners. Cleaning of the host's wounds was recorded twice during the study. Adult fish side by side or close to each other were regarded as an indication of reproductive pairs. The association of the whalesuckers with a middle-sized, fast and social cetacean likely provided this remora with ride, food, increased opportunity for reproduction and mating place, and perhaps protection from fast predators such as sharks, tuna, and larger dolphins.

Megaptera novaeangliae sightings were gathered in the 2002 winter season, between February and April throughout several seismic survey cruises in a study area located north of Margarita Island. The data were processed by GIS (MapInfo 4.5) considering environmental features such as underwater topography and bathymetry. The spatial and temporal distribution of M. novaeangliae in the study area suggested a significant concentration of whales within the Margarita–Los Testigos submarine platform region in a transition zone along the shelf edge between the north coast of Margarita Island and La Blanquilla Island. This apparent wintering habitat includes protected calving areas such as the Los Frailes Archipelago and Margarita Island itself. The seasonal presence of this species in the territorial waters of the north-east coast of Venezuela indicates the biological value of these animals, as well as the vulnerability of the whales that dwell in this area to oil and gas exploration and development activities.

We report the first record of the hydroid Bedotella armata (Pictet & Bedot, 1900) from a bathyal region of the Porcupine Seabight, southwest Ireland. Bedotella armata was thought to be endemic to the southern Lusitanian province and the Mediterranean.Yet specimens were common in box cores on and off living coral mounds formed by the scleractinian Lophelia pertusa. Irish colonies were slightly larger than those from the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bay of Biscay.We hypothesize that the association of B. armata with L. pertusa could explain morphological differences, as hydroids on reef structures may benefit from better feeding opportunities in enhanced flow conditions. We also hypothesize that post-glacial hydroid colonization of these mounds during the Holocene was partly due to species emigration from the warm saline Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) mass. Our findings support the hypothesis that MOW could play a significant role in determining the distribution and recent origins of mound fauna in the Porcupine Seabight.The current findings become the deepest, northernmost record of B. armata.

The first record of prey-transfer behaviour between adult and calf animals in Sotalia fluviatilis is recorded. Five clear episodes of prey-transfer from adult animals to calves were observed, occurring in north-eastern Brazil at Pipa's Beach. These results suggest that food-sharing is a naturally occurring behaviour in the marine tucuxi dolphin, and that it may act as both a food supply and as an opportunity to obtain information about the food that is eaten by other group members.

The occurrence in British coastal waters of the marbled crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus is confirmed for the first time. Features are given to enable this crab to be distinguished from native species. Its spread along the French Atlantic coast and introduction into British waters is discussed.

Several juvenile specimens of Sparisoma cretense, a previously unrecorded species, were caught using beach seining in Ria Formosa.The hypothesis that these occurrences are related with climatic changes is discussed.

The capture of a specimen of Selene dorsalis in the Chipiona (southern Spain), a rare species in waters north of the Cape Verde Islands and Senegal, is reported as the first record in the Gulf of Cadiz.

An abundant population of the sea pen Cavernularia pusilla (Anthozoa: Pennatulacea), with up to 70 colonies m−2, has been found on soft bottoms off the Basque coast (south-east Bay of Biscay, north-east Atlantic). This species spreads in an area of several kilometres length, and its bathymetric distribution ranges between 35 and 85 m depth, reaching its highest densities at 45–55 m. Such a population is remarkable, considering the scarce available records of this species and its southern affinities. The geographic and bathymetric distributions of the species are revised and discussed.

During a routine visit to ‘Nasima Tirmizi Marine Research Station’ (NTMRS) at Sandspit, Karachi, specimens of a Cubozoan jellyfish Chiropsalmus buitendijki belonging to the order Chirodropida and Chirodropidae family, were collected. An earlier occurrence of this species at the same location was observed in the same season and reported by us. This family is of particular interest to science as it includes some of the most dangerous jellyfish. Another species, a large scyphozoan jellyfish Catostylus mosaicus, which belongs to the order Rhizostomeae and family Catostylidae, was netted alive from the Korangi Creek during a routine shore collection trip. The scyphozoan genus and species are both new records for the area. The rhizostome jellyfish are harvested for food the world over. A brief description of the species collected from Karachi waters (northern Arabian Sea) is given with notes on their distribution, ecology and habitat. The importance of jellyfish in fishery is also discussed.

Aplysia dactylomela is widely distributed in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, but has not been recorded in the Mediterranean. Recently, underwater photographs of this species from the eastern Mediterranean were posted on Internet forums. The Mediterranean coasts of Turkey were screened for this species and two alive individuals were encountered. This study constitutes the first record of this species from the Turkish coastline and provides enough evidence that Aplysia dactylomela is spreading in the Levant Basin.

A grapsid crab, Percnon gibbesi, is the most invasive decapod species to enter the Mediterranean. The vessel-transported crab spread within a few years from the Balearic Islands to the Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts of Italy. In the summer of 2005 it was recorded for the first time from Greece. Its presence in the little frequented island of Antikythira possibly points to the role of recreational vessels as vectors of marine alien species.

A new alien pilumnid, Actumnus globulus, is reported from the Mediterranean Sea, off Punta Ala, Italy. The species is known from the Red Sea and the East African coast. The opportunity is taken here to redescribe the adult morphology, illustrate it, and, for the first time, figure the male pleopod.

The occurrence of longfin mako, Isurus paucus is recorded for the first time in the mid-North Atlantic. Two specimens were caught, including a 215 cm stretched total length mature male, at 42°50′N 36°16′W by a commercial longline vessel targeting swordfish.

The known geographic distribution of two reef fish species of Indo-Pacific affinity is increased: Acanthurus nigricans and Cantherhines dumerilii. These species are reported for the first time from the Acapulco coast, México. Collection data, and morphometric and meristic characteristics of the studied specimens are presented.

The spatial distribution of epibionts on carapaces of marine turtles may be influenced by variation in recruitment dynamics, water flow patterns, and levels of disturbance on different regions of the carapace. We determined the distribution of 18 taxa of epibionts among nine zones on the carapace of 18 nesting loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) on Wassaw Island, Georgia, USA. Frequency of occurrence (%F) of all epibionts and each taxonomic class was determined for each zone. Distribution patterns were compared with a uniform distribution, and the distribution of each taxonomic class was compared with that of all epibionts combined. The distribution of all epibionts was significantly different from a uniform distribution, with highest densities on the posterior and vertebral zones. Distributions of each class, except Malacostraca and Cirripedia, were not significantly different from a uniform distribution across the carapace. Malacostraca was most dense on the posterior zones, whereas Cirripedia was most dense in the vertebral zones. Distributions of individual classes were all significantly different from the distribution of all epibionts combined. The distribution of all epibionts was strongly influenced by the distributions of the two dominant organisms, the chelonibiid barnacles and the caprellid amphipods.

The first occurrence of Acartia tonsa in a southern Adriatic Sea lagoon (Lesina lagoon) is reported. It was recorded in samples collected during two sampling campaigns carried out in May and July 2004. The arrival of A. tonsa may have caused the disappearance of the formerly abundant A. margalefi.

Odontaspis ferox is a poorly known species with cosmopolitan and disjunct geographical distribution that is listed as vulnerable. Herein the occurrence of this species is reported at an insular oceanic site in the western equatorial Atlantic, the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. This is the second record of this rare shark in this part of the Atlantic, which also increases to 26 the number of elasmobranch species recorded for the archipelago.

Imposex is characterized by the development of male characteristics, such as the penis and vas deferens, in female prosobranch gastropods, caused by organotin compounds contamination. In Brazil, imposex was observed in the muricids Stramonita haemastoma and Stramonita rustica and in the olivid Olivancillaria vesica. During the low tide, 54 adult individuals of Leucozonia nassa were manually collected in February 2004 at Ilha do Japonês tidal flat, Cabo Frio County, Rio de Janeiro State, south-east Brazil. About 98.15% of females presented imposex (N = 30). Their penises were smaller than male ones. Only 1 imposexed female presented a biphallia problem, showing 2 flattened penises with a small scourge in the edge. This is the first record of biphallia in an imposexed female of fasciolarid Leucozonia nassa.

The polychaete Stygocapitella subterranea is found in upper shore stable coarse substrata and can be regarded as semi-terrestrial. It is known from similar habitats in widely distributed locations of continental Europe. The first two British records, from upper shore damp grit, are summarized here: one site is adjacent to a tidal mudflat near Plymouth and the other site is on the tidal River Thames, London. The two areas have different salinity regimes but similar sediment characteristics, in agreement with published accounts of the species' habitat preferences. It is likely that the species will eventually be found throughout the British Isles and may have been recorded in unpublished data. However, the restricted habitat of S. subterranea and the potential threats suggest that some consideration be given to the conservation of the species.