Evidence is given of the second documented record of Gephyroberyx darwinii (Beryciformes: Trachychthyidae) in the Mediterranean. One specimen was caught offshore S. Agata di Militello (Tyrrhenian Sea) in August 2011 by trammel net. Herein are reported its morphometric and meristic features.

Studies on the biology of the franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) in the Río Negro Estuary (RNE), Patagonia, Argentina, were carried out from 2002 to 2011. Information about group size, group dispersion and behaviour was collected from the coast and by boat, using scanning and focal animal/group sampling methodology. Group size varied from 1 to 5 dolphins (X = 1.69; standard deviation (SD) = 0.74; N = 121), 2 being the most frequent value (46.28%; N = 56). Group dispersion varied from 0 to 10 dolphin length (DL) (X = 1.4; SD = 0.75; N = 51), 0 DL (54.9%; N = 28) being the most frequent value. Behaviour of travelling, feeding, milling and resting were recorded, with a higher frequency of animals travelling (36.58%; N = 45). Calves were observed in spring and summer (N = 10). 13 stranded individuals were reported and 3 of them were collected from gillnets. Data presented herein indicate year-round presence of franciscana as well as the RNE being the southernmost breeding and feeding site reported to date. The establishment of the proposed natural reserve by the Governments of Río Negro and Buenos Aires provinces and continued long-term studies are urgently recommended.

Numerous Indo-Pacific originated alien foraminifer species have been recorded in the eastern Mediterranean. Each year new species are being added. In the framework of a foraminiferal study conducted on the east Aegean coast the benthic foraminifer Polymorphina fistulosa is found in the foraminiferal assemblage around a hot water submarine spring in Ilıca Bay (Çesme, Turkey). It is also observed in one sediment sample collected from the western entrance of the Dardanelles (Çanakkale, Turkey). These records constitute the first record of this Pacific originated species in the Aegean Sea.

The occurrence of the dinoflagellate Kryptoperidinium foliaceum is reported for the first time from a hypersaline environment in Kuwait based on recurrent observations of this species from a tidal creek in appreciable numbers. This new record extends the known range of salinity tolerance for K. foliaceum to more than 100 psu. The distribution of the species along a salinity gradient within the tidal creek was studied. The morphological features of the species on the basis of light and epifluorescence microscopy observations are described.

Holothuria arguinensis is reported for the first time on the south-eastern Spanish coast. One specimen of this species was identified in El Mojón (Alicante, Spain, 37°50′54.17″N 0°45′39.90″W). This finding widens the geographical range of H. arguinensis and demonstrates that its environmental requirements are changing. Future genetic studies in this species would allow us to improve our understanding of its colonization from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

The nannastacid cumacean Campylaspis laevigata is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea from specimens collected on the Israeli continental slope. This species is redescribed, based on specimens from the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean, and distinguished from the closely allied congeners Campylaspis glabra and Campylaspis nitens, both recorded from the Mediterranean. The three species have a smooth carapace, but may be distinguished by the structure and setation of the uropods: the inner margin of the peduncle is serrated in C. laevigata and C. nitens (not serrated in C. glabra), but the latter has more setae (6) on the endopodal inner margin and a rudimentary eyelobe. The known bathymetric distribution of C. laevigata ranges from 280 to 2000 m, and its highest abundances in the southern Bay of Biscay were found between 500 and 800 m, possibly related to food availability in the near-bottom environment.

The alpheid shrimp Prionalpheus gomezi, previously only known from the incomplete type specimen from Cuba, is reported from Guadeloupe, Belize and Honduras. The previously unknown cheliped is illustrated, as is the diagnostic colour pattern.

This is the first record of a ladyfish (Elops smithi) larva in Uruguay and the southernmost South Atlantic record. We provide morphological–merisitc and environmental information about the larva collected in March 2010 in brackish waters of the Solís Grande estuary. The sampling site was 0.9 m depth, water was warm (21.7 °C), low salinity (12.3) and with high oxygen content (7.7 mg l−1). The larva was very transparent, 31 mm in standard length and had a total of 76 myomeres. The dorsal fin (24 rays) and the anal fin (16 rays) did not overlap. The caudal fin was forked; the pectoral fin without rays and pelvic fin was in an early phase. The swim bladder was inverted U shaped. The half premaxilla had 8 teeth and the half mandible 10 (of similar size and appearance). Pigments were present in the ventral line (from the thorax to anus) and in the middle lateral trunk and caudal peduncle line. These characteristics suggested an early-metamorphic stage of the larva. This species is recorded with low abundances in southern Brazil. The collection of this individual occurred during a period of strong El Niño (2009–2010). These events are associated with warm sea surface temperature anomalies in the south-western Atlantic and northerly winds anomalies in the Brazilian–Uruguayan continental shelf.

This paper contributes an updated and detailed review of fin whale mortality events in the Adriatic Sea, encompassing four centuries. A total of 17 events, all referring to single animals, were validated through a content review of historical and recent information. Mortality events in the area mostly involved dead animals (N = 12; 70.6%), with 2 whales live-stranded (11.8%) and 3 killed (17.6%). Most records (70.6%) are for the last century, likely due to improved reporting. We provide a detailed description of the previously unpublished killing of an adult male fin whale which occurred in 1960 in the central-western portion of the basin.

Re-examination of Megabalanus azoricus from the Azores revealed previously unknown morphological features. Examination of more exemplars also confirmed the description made by Pilsbry in 1916. Morphological features are herein described (e.g. true tergal spur) and morphometric relations are established for the first time, providing a significant contribution towards the management of this important Azorean seafood resource.

This study was carried out on fatty acid composition in wild and cultured varieties of two fish species, Epinephelus coioides and Sparidentex hasta. Fresh fish samples were collected from Hormozgan, Iran. After lipid extraction, fatty acids composition was analysed by gas chromatography. Results showed DHA (C22:6n3), EPA (C20:5n3), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), myristic acid (C14:0), oleic acid (C18:1n9c) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1) were important fatty acids in the fish samples. There was low concentrate of linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n3) in all analysed samples. Cultured fishes were found to contain significantly higher values of SFA, while their wild relative contained higher levels of MUFA followed by PUFA. In the wild fish species among PUFA, DHA were the most abundant followed by EPA. Altogether, EPA was the most abundant followed by DHA in the cultured fish species. Also the ω3/ω6 ratio was significantly higher in wild fishes and it was highest (13.04) in wild E. coioides.

We report for the first time the occurrence of the irregular sea urchin Echinoneus cyclostomus for Puerto Rico. This report increases the known regional distribution range of the species and the number of Puerto Rico shallow water echinoids to seventeen. In addition, we report a new locality for Cassidulus caribaearum, the other echinoid recently recorded for the island.

Caprella scaura is thought to come from the western Indian Ocean and was first recorded in the Atlanto-Mediterranean region in the Lagoon of Venice in 1994. Since then the species has rapidly spread throughout the Mediterranean Sea and it has recently been reported in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The occurrence of C. scaura in two marinas in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, is discussed taking into account the possible pathways of introduction. The most likely vector of introduction is within the hull-fouling community on recreational craft. It may be expected to appear in other marinas within Macaronesia.

A total of twenty-seven species of marine-living coccolithophores were recorded from seawater samples that were collected during two spring cruises along the shelf regions of the Yellow Sea (YS) and the East China Sea (ECS). They were classified into ten families and four orders, with some additional species incertae sedis. Most of these species were heterococcolithophores, and no holococcolithophores were examined from the YS waters. Six species were recorded for the first time from the coastal waters of the China Seas and their morphological characteristics are described and photographically illustrated in this paper. They were Cyrtosphaera lecaliae, Syracosphaera histrica, Syracosphaera marginaporata, Pappomonas cf. sp. type 3, Calyptrolithophora papillifera and Corisphaera strigilis. Three types of Emiliania huxleyi, type A, type B/C and type C, were examined. Species of the genus Syracosphaera, in addition to E. huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica, frequently occurred at the surveyed sites. The coccolithophore assemblages in the offshore waters of the ECS were characterized by high species diversity—fourteen species in one sample. This finding indicated that the shelf waters adjacent to the Kuroshio path were ideal habitats for living coccolithophores. The variation in taxonomic composition of these algae could be associated with differences in their preferred habitats.

Four new records of nudibranchs from Kuwait, one new record for the Arabian Gulf and two rare species are reported together with photographs. A preliminary checklist of nudibranchs occurring in Kuwait is provided, based on current and literature records.

In December 2011 a specimen of the blue tang surgeonfish Acanthurus coeruleus was observed in the waters of Cyprus. As this species typically lives in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, its presence in the Mediterranean Sea is very likely to be related to human activities. Speculated ways of introduction in the Mediterranean Sea are discussed.

A total of 16 species of intertidal brachyuran crabs were recorded from the three major estuaries (Punta Banda, False Bay-San Quintín and Laguna Manuela) of the west coast of the state of Baja California, Mexico. The species belong to 7 families: Cancridae (3), Grapsidae (2), Ocypodidae (2), Panopeidae (3), Pinnotheridae (4), Portunidae (1) and Varunidae (1). New distributional records include an extension of the northern limits of Cyrtoplax schmitti Rathbun, 1935, Panopeus purpureus Lockington, 1877, Goniopsis pulchra (Lockington, 1877), Uca princeps (Smith, 1870) and Pinnixa longipes (Lockington 1877).

This work reports for the first time cleaning activity by fish and shrimps in Santa Luzia, Cape Verde Archipelago and São Tomé Islands. Three new records of facultative cleaner fish species are presented. Facultative cleaners dominated by Labridae were the most observed cleaner fishes in the two studied islands. Multi-specific cleaning stations were prevalent in Santa Luzia, while cleaner shrimps were more observed interacting in the São Tomé Islands.

This paper reports the first record of the endangered cerianthid Ceriantheomorphe brasiliensis in the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. The observed distribution of the species over Paranaguá Bay is described and some aspects of its conservation are discussed.

Brachycythara atlantidea (Knudsen, 1952) and B. beatriceae Mariottini, 2007, both species belonging to the family Mangeliidae, are here moved to the genus Bela Gray, 1847, based on morphological shell features. The new epithets are: Bela atlantidea (Knudsen, 1952) comb. nov. and Bela beatriceae (Mariottini, 2007) comb. nov. The recently described Bela clarae Peňas & Rolán, 2008 is here considered a junior synonym of B. atlantidea according to a comparative scanning electron microscopy analysis of the shells. The distribution of B. atlantidea in the Mediterranean basin is therefore reconsidered including all known records of B. clarae.