Two new species of the recently established genus Echinovadoma (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida: Echinovadomidae) are described and illustrated from the Banda Sea, off Java, E.alacermatrix sp. nov. and E.magnitorquata sp. nov. Their affinities to the only other known species of the genus, E.anceps, for which both the genus and family were named, are discussed.

Driftwood was collected from Stuart Creek, North Queensland, to examine the relationship between the wood-boring isopod, Sphaeroma terebrans (Isopoda: Sphaeromatidae), and the wood-boring mollusc, Bankiaaustralis (Bivalvia: Teredinidae). Broadly non-overlapping distributions in individual pieces of driftwood were found for S. terebrans and molluscan wood-borers at the study site.

The relative frequency and destination of limpets relocating from different home-scar positions in respect to aggregations was determined for a population of limpets in Dorset, UK. Limpets on the outside of groups were the most likely to relocate, next were solitary limpets and limpets on the inside of groups were the least likely to move.

In situ seasonal study of siphonal activity in Mya arenaria (ten individuals) was performed using a fixed video camera during nine complete submersion cycles between May and November 1996. Siphonal activity was described by exhalant and inhalant siphon simultaneous closure frequencies (EIC), pseudofaeces production frequencies (PFC) and both siphons opening state duration (OPE). A repeated measure ANOVA model showed a slight OPE increase between May and June and a strong OPE and EIC decrease from October. A non-linear probit model on the proportion of individuals showing PFC events during submersion cycles indicated a progressive decrease of this behaviour with time. The siphonal activity was relatively high until September and then decreased from October suggesting a marked reduction of the feeding activity.

The prey size of young cuttlefish was investigated by measuring the size of entire animals, carapace, periopods, and otoliths in the stomach contents of specimens from Morbihan Bay in 1994–1996. The young of the Sepia species consumed a wide range of prey sizes. The size of all isopods and amphipods was less than the 50% of those of the Sepia. The size ratio of brachyurans varied between 14 and 37% of the dorsal mantle length of the cuttlefish. The young could catch fish species which were three times larger than itself.

The egg mass of the diamond-shaped squid, Thysanoteuthis rhombus (Oegopsidae: Thysanoteuthidae) was sighted in surface waters off south-east Sulawesi. It was a sinuous hollow tube-like structure about 2 m long and 0·15 m diameter. It was estimated to contain in the order of 180,000 purple eggs of 1 mm diameter with little or no yolk. Development of the embryos from early differentiation to hatching took between 47 and 57 h at about 28°C.

Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) movement patterns and growth rates over annual cycles remain entirely unknown. Here the re-sighting of a female identified by a highly distinctive first dorsal fin, after a 3·1 year period is described. Our results show this individual foraged at the surface in coastal areas off south-west England in at least two of four summer seasons and increased in total length by 2·4 m over this period. The growth increment observed was similar to that predicted from the growth model for this species.

Substratum choice tests conducted on early juveniles of Lipophrys pholis show that they clearly prefer rocky to sandy substrata. The cues involved are still unknown. It is likely that this early preference for the habitat of the adults affords them a greater protection from both predators and wave action. At this early stage agonistic behaviour, although in simple forms, is already present and may play a role in competition for the best shelters.