We report here, for the first time, the existence of a white colour morph Elacatinus figaro, an endemic threatened cleaner goby from the Brazilian Coast. The specimen from this study lived in a cleaning station along with other E. figaro. Records were made based on pictures and the specimen was collected and preserved for genetic studies. Although the strong bright yellow colour is of vital importance for attracting other fish to the cleaning station, we speculate that living alongside regular-coloured individuals can diminish the disadvantage of not having the flashy stripe.

The first record of Lebetus guilleti for the Italian seas is reported here. The finding is based on photographic records of specimens located in shallow waters off the Conero Promontory (An) along the Adriatic coast of Italy. This record expands the distribution range of this species in the Mediterranean and moves its southern limit in the Adriatic Sea 170 km further south, adding to the suspicion that the distribution of this cryptic species might be wider than previously described. Recreational SCUBA diving focused on biodiversity observations and underwater photography proved instrumental again in providing information about the presence and distribution of marine fauna, including the most easily overlooked species.

This study aims to describe the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of Gobiidae larvae at a tropical estuarine system in south-east Brazil (Macaé). The samples were collected in six stations, through oblique hauls using a bongo net (330 µm mesh size), coupled to a flowmeter, during the night in the ebb and flood tides in March, July and October 2006 and in February 2007. In the Macaé River estuary was collected a total of 1,234 Gobiidae larvae, representing nine taxa. The highest densities occurred in the river mouth during the flood tide in the rainy season. The most abundant groups were: Gobiosoma parri, Gobionellus oceanicus and Ctenogobius boleosoma. Gobiosoma parri was also dominant at the Macaé estuary, which also presented higher densities in the coastal stations during the rainy season (March), both the flood as the ebb tide. Gobionellus oceanicus and Ctenogobius boleosoma were characteristic of the dry season in the mouth and river stations during the flood tide. The abiotic factors chlorophyll-a and temperature were considered biologically significant for Gobiidae larvae distribution. The spatial and seasonal variations together with the tide influence the distribution of the fish larvae Gobiidae family in the Macaé River estuary and its coastal zone.

New distribution records from Britain and Ireland for six species of rare goby from nearshore areas are reported. The value of photographic records obtained by recreational SCUBA divers using digital cameras in underwater housings is demonstrated. The six species included are Buenia jeffreysii, Gobius couchi, Gobius cruentatus, Gobius gasteveni, Lebetus scorpioides and Lebetus guilleti.

The amphidromous life cycle and morphological characteristics of Sicydiinae species allowthem to colonise tropical freshwater habitats from the river mouth to the upper reaches ofthe river basin. Otolith microchemistry of 62 Sicydium punctatum from thePérou River, Guadeloupe (French West Indies) was investigated with a femtosecond laserablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (fs-LA-ICP-MS) in order toreconstruct individual life history and follow the possible movements of Sicydiumpunctatum after the recruitment. Sr:Ca fingerprint confirmed the amphidromouscycle of this species. Variations of Ba:Ca in some individuals indicated changes inenvironmental conditions after the recruitment in the river. Even if results did not allowconcluding to the specific origin of these variations, the hydrological regime and thebiofilm composition may have a non negligible influence on the Ba availability. Resultssupported the use of multi-elemental signatures in otoliths and highlight the need for alarge geographical and temporal sampling of Ba and Sr in freshwater systems for a betterunderstanding of amphidromous fish species.

It is proposed herein that the juvenile parrotfish Scarus zelindae is a mimic of the barber goby Elacatinus figaro. Juvenile S. zelindae not only resemble E. figaro but also present changes in behaviour that helps establish the existence of a mimic–model system. When approached by divers juvenile S. zelindae remained stationary at the bottom adopting a site-attached behaviour similar to E. figaro. Because of S. zelindae's colour similarity and behaviour changes, we propose that juvenile S. zelindae may be acting as a mimic to the model E. figaro gaining advantage due to the low rate of predation upon cleaner fish.

Bollmannia boqueronensis is a tropical marine goby. Two specimens were captured at 25 m depth on the Alacranes Reef, Mexico, off the north-east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula (Gulf of Mexico) in August 2009. The present note extends the known distribution area of this species towards the west and constitutes the first record for Mexico.

Guillet's goby (Lebetus guilleti) is thought to be Europe's smallest marine fish. Records of Guillet's goby in the UK are limited with observations restricted to the Isle of Man, the Plymouth area and Lyme Bay in the English Channel. This species is described for the first time from the Shetland Isles, Scotland, UK where it was documented photographically on two separate occasions in June 2010. On both occasions male and female pairs were photographed on shell gravel in water depths of 10 m and 8 m. These are the first recorded field observations of Guillet's goby in Scotland and extend the known range of this species from 58°N (Kattegat, southern Scandinavia) to 60°N (Shetland). It is probable that species such as Guillet's goby are under-recorded due to their small size, cryptic coloration and behaviour.

Most studies and records of cleaning symbiosis between reef fish originate from shallow waters, ranging about 1–30 m depth. We record herein the wrasse Bodianus pulchellus and the goby Elacatinus phthirophagus cleaning below 60 m depth in the tropical south-western Atlantic. The wrasse was recorded cleaning two large piscivorous clients (a jack and a grouper) and the goby was recorded cleaning a grouper. Cleaning interactions between deep-reef fish and both of these cleaners may be expected at depths even greater than those reported here.

The first record of Gobius couchi for the Ligurian Sea and the second record of this rare gobiid fish for the western Mediterranean are reported.

To reach adult habitats, juveniles of three species of Hawaiian gobies (fishes under 3 cm long) climb waterfalls up to 350 m high, over 10 000 times their body length. The demands of moving through such an extreme environment could constrain the range of viable locomotor mechanisms that these fishes use. Previous qualitative observations indicated that Lentipes concolor and Awaous guamensis use ‘powerbursts’ of axial undulation to climb, whereas Sicyopterus stimpsoni ‘inches up’ vertical surfaces by alternately attaching oral and pelvic suckers to the substrate. To compare these propulsive mechanisms and their physiological requirements, high-speed video footage of climbing by juveniles from these three species on an artificial waterfall were collected, and climbing kinematics and performance for the two climbing styles were quantified. Bouts of powerburst climbing by L. concolor and A. guamensis typically begin in or near direct water flow and are initiated by a single, rapid adduction of the pectoral fins. Powerburst climbing bouts are rapid (12.4±1.0 body lengths (BL) s−1), but short in duration (0.07±0.02 s) with few continuous locomotor cycles (3.8±1.3 cycles bout−1). Powerburst climbers use high amplitude undulations along the entire body, but minimum resultant velocities of these undulations are high (>6 BL s−1). This suggests that these species may hybridize terrestrial propulsive mechanisms with aquatic mechanisms. In contrast, climbing by inching in S. stimpsoni involves little axial undulation or fin movement. Sicyopterus stimpsoni typically exit the water outside of direct flow and seem to use terrestrial propulsive mechanisms. As the oral disc attaches to the substrate, it expands to almost twice its resting area, after which the posterior body is pulled upwards; once the pelvic disc attaches, the oral disc releases and the anterior body advances. Climbing bouts include several continuous cycles of disc attachment (11.0±1.4 cycles bout−1) and last several seconds at velocities of 0.21±0.01 BL s−1. Before climbing waterfalls during migration to adult habitats, S. stimpsoni undergo a non-feeding metamorphosis that leads to the development of the mouth as a secondary locomotor organ. The unusual behaviour and ontogenetic strategy of S. stimpsoni seem to be evolutionary novelties, rather than ancestral retentions, suggesting that the evolution of these features may have been closely correlated. The substantial performance and kinematic distinctions between powerburst and inching climbing indicate that considerable locomotor diversity can evolve even in the context of extreme environmental demands.