Continuous long-term measurements of temperature, salinity and current velocity, have been recorded over 44 months at the Tisler Reef. The Tisler Reef is a 2 km long cold-water coral reef on the sill of the Kosterfjord, located in the north-eastern Skagerrak, Norway. The reef comprises principally Lophelia pertusa, at depths between 70 and 160 m, and is an important habitat for sponge, crustacean and fish species including a number of species of commercial importance. Analysis of the current velocity data has identified a number of features such as flow reversals. These reversals in flow direction are often associated with significant changes in bottom temperature. During the autumn months of 2006 and 2008, a series of large and rapid increases in bottom temperature were observed, with temperatures seen to rise by approximately 4°C in a 24 hour period on both occasions. The occurrence of the 2006 and 2008 events corresponded with the observation of mass mortality in the long-lived sponge Geodia baretti. Historical temperature records from the region suggest that these temperature shocks are uncharacteristically high. The temperatures observed at the reef exceed the typical short-term physiological limits of L. pertusa thus future temperature shock events may have a swift and negative impact on the cold-water coral reef ecosystems of the Skagerrak.

Thyone pawsoni and Holothuria (Theelothuria) princeps are reported from shallow water of the South Atlantic Ocean. A morphological description of these new records with colour figures and scanning electron microscopy images of their ossicles are provided. With these two new records for the Brazilian Coast, the genus Thyone is now represented by two species and Holothuria by six.

Sea cucumbers have many important and useful properties known for human health. In this respect and with the lack of scientific knowledge about them, this study has been conducted to identify the present species in the northern part of the Persian Gulf. Two species of sea cucumber (one belonging to the genus Holothuria and the other to Stichopus) were collected in the subtidal zone of the northern part of Qeshm Island (Persian Gulf) via SCUBA diving. The literature review on the distribution was determined to be the first report of H. sacabra and S. hermanni from Qeshm Island (Persian Gulf). The species identification was accomplished through morphological keys and review of their ossicles.

The taxonomy and distribution patterns of the common dolphins (genus Delphinus) are problematic among cetaceans and particularly complicated in the south-western Atlantic Ocean. On the basis of national collections, we found ten adult skulls of the genus Delphinus of Uruguayan origin. The two currently recognized species for the genus were identified based on craniometric measurements: the pelagic short beaked form (Delphinus delphis, N = 3) and the coastal long beaked form (Delphinus capensis, N = 4), although previous studies only recognized D. capensis for Uruguay. Three specimens could not be identified (Delphinus sp.) because of broken skull (2) and intermediate measures (1). This result is consistent with a recent review on the biogeography of the genus in the south-western Atlantic Ocean.

This study aimed to assess the feeding association between coral reef fishes and the hydrozoan Millepora spp. in two different reef systems (Tamandaré reefs and Fernando de Noronha archipelago) of Pernambuco State (north-eastern Brazil). A total of eight reef fish species, predominantly juveniles, were recorded feeding on colonies of Millepora spp. during 35 records. The highest recorded feeding rate was 1.72 ± 0.87 bites.minute-1 for Sparisoma axillare and the lowest was 0.18 ± 0.40 bites.minute-1 for Stegastes rocasensis. The colony structure of the genus Millepora supports a high diversity of microfaunal and macrofaunal invertebrates, which may result in the frequent foraging behaviour observed here.

The occurrence of the candelabrum coral Ellisella paraplexauroides in Italian waters (Sicily Strait, Mediterranean Sea), was documented during a remotely operated vehicle cruise, carried out by ISPRA in May 2010 on-board the RV ‘Astrea’. Five specimens were photographed and sampled from 80 to 94 m depth on the north-east coasts of Pantelleria Island, confirming the distribution of this species in the central Mediterranean Sea. A description of the living colonies and other taxonomic and ecological characteristics is provided.

The record of the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina along the south-eastern Apulian coast (south-eastern Italy) is here reported, which represents the first record of the species in the Ionian Sea (Mediterranean basin).

We report the first record of Eastonia rugosa in Sardinia. Living individuals and loose valves were found in proximity of the Rio Padrongianus delta, near Olbia in the north-eastern part of the island. Several alien species were found in the same area. It cannot be excluded that E. rugosa reached this locality by anthropogenic media, but the drivers (natural versus anthropogenic) of the range extension of this species still have to be clearly identified. This issue is very important to understand to what extent E. rugosa is adequate as a descriptor of the Mediterranean Sea ‘tropicalization' as suggested in recent monitoring programmes.

This study aims to describe the epibiota of the spider crab, Schizophrys dahlak with special reference to epizoic diatoms. Specimens were collected from the Suez Canal between autumn 2008 and summer 2009. Macro-epibionts consisted of the tube worm Hydroides elegans, the barnacles Balanus amphitrite and B. eburneus, the bivalve Brachidontes variabilis and the urochordate Styela plicata. Total coverage of macro-epibionts was greater on females' carapaces than those of males with apparent seasonal variations. The highest coverage was noticed in spring and winter for both males and females. Sixty-five diatoms taxa were recorded as epibionts belonging to 25 genera. The maximal total averages of cell count were observed during summer and spring with the highest average of 10.9 and 4.4 × 103 cells dm−2 for males and females, respectively. A single diatom taxon, Fragilaria intermedia, comprising 73.5% of all epizoic diatoms, was the most dominant species during spring, whereas Amphora coffeaeformis and Cocconeis placentula were the dominants during summer. The masking behaviour of S. dahlak was discussed in terms of the significant role of epizoic diatoms.

The present study analysed samples of Serra Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus brasiliensis and largehead hairtail, Trichiurus lepturus captured from the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with a view to verify the occurrence of metazoan parasites related to public health in these fish and determine the parasitic indices and sites of infection. In S. brasiliensis, 28 nematode specimens of Contracaecum fortalezae were encountered in the branchial chamber and gonads with 20% prevalence. Besides 24 trematode specimens of Didymocystys sp. were found in the tegument, muscles and branchial chamber with 40% prevalence. In T. lepturus, a nematode Hysterothylacium sp. was found in the intestine, with a prevalence of 33.33% and 641 digenetic specimens of Catarinatrema verrucosum were found in the tegument, branchial chamber and stomach, with a prevalence of 100%. The occurrence of the parasitic members of the family Anisakidae and the digenetic trematodes of the families Hemuridae and Didymozoidae have zoonotic potential and are related to public health since the fish hosts are of commercial importance.

During a routine survey, the scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini was caught from Nagapattinam coastal waters, south-east coast of India. It is the second time this species has occurred after a long period along the Indian coast, and this substantiates the possibility of its entry from another place.

The razor fish Iniistius twistii previously known from the Western Pacific, from Japan to Indonesia, is reported from the south-western coast of India (Kerala). The specimen is described and figured.

This study has been conducted in order to identify the present species in the northern part of the Persian Gulf. Samples were collected on the sub tidal zone of Larak Island (Persian Gulf) via SCUBA diving in July 2011. The literature review on the distribution revealed that this is the first report of Holothuria hilla from Larak Island. The species identification was made using morphological keys and review of their ossicles.

A specimen of Cryptopodia echinosa (Decapoda: Brachyura: Parthenopidae) was collected from the subtidal area of the northern Oman Sea in 2009. A literature review on the distribution of this species revealed that this is the first record of this species from the Oman Sea. The morphological structures of this species are given in this article.

One of the several lessepsian species colonizing areas of the Mediterranean is Brachidontes pharaonis, a bivalve with the ability to form dense mytilid mats over a range of different mediolittoral substrata. Since its initial observation from the Maltese Islands in the early 1970s, the species has consolidated its presence all over the archipelago. Close examination of the entire length of the Maltese shoreline was conducted to collect quantitative and qualitative data on the mytilid and on dominant accompanying macrofaunal and macrofloral species, in what represents the first comprehensive mapping of an allochthonous species within an island territory. Brachidontes pharaonis was found to have colonized most of the northern and eastern coastal stretches of the island of Malta, preferring limestone substrata in inlets with limited wave exposure and affected by high marine concentrations of hydrocarbons and other pollutants, where it reached individual abundances exceeding 1000 individuals per square metre.

Elasmobranchs are frequently apex predators in marine ecosystems, and information on their diet is essential for understanding trophic relationships in these systems. The diet of the sicklefin smooth-hound, Mustelus lunulatus, was investigated through analysis of gut contents. The diet was relatively homogeneous and was dominated by crustaceans, consisting mostly of the anomuran crab Munida tenella (percentage of the prey-specific index of relative importance (%PSIRI) = 30.5) and the bigtooth rock crab Cancer amphioetus (%PSIRI = 9.9). Use of cumulative prey curves as a measure of precision indicated that data were sufficient to fully describe the diet of M. lunulatus. Further studies are necessary to fully characterize diet across sexes and successive age-classes.

The ammotheid pycnogonid Ammothea hilgendorfi was first recorded outside its native range of the Pacific Ocean in 1978 in southern England and in the Lagoon of Venice in 1979 to 1981. Both occurrences are attributed to anthropogenic dispersion by shipping. Subsequently, it has spread further in the UK to Dorset and, most recently, to Essex. The world distribution of this species and the history of its occurrence outside the Pacific are reviewed, and hypotheses for its recent spread in the UK, via recreational boating, are presented.

Polka-dot ribbonfish Desmodema polystictum was recorded for the first time from Indian waters. A single specimen of D. polystictum (107 cm total length and weighing 480 g) was collected from Tharuvaikulam landing centre, north to Tuticorin, on the south-east coast of India during September 2010. The distinguishing characters of the species from other species of the family are discussed. Morphometric and meristic characters of D. polystictum are presented in this paper. With the present report, the distribution area of this species now extends to the Indian waters.

In July 2010 and August 2011 a subadult and an adult porbeagle shark Lamna nasus were respectively caught as by-catch by an artisanal fishery boat using a gill net in the central Adriatic Sea. The specimens, a mature 200 and a maturing 150 cm total length male, were photorecorded, measured and identified on the basis of meristic traits. Such two occurrences are discussed in the context of recent and historical information available on the presence of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. Overall, data confirmed on the one hand the rarity of the porbeagle shark in the Adriatic Sea also, and, on the other hand, they suggested some relation between the density of the findings for this species and the presence of a pit zone in the central part of the Adriatic Sea.

Although both Siganus luridus and Siganus rivulatus have been reported from the Maltese Islands in the literature, and on internet sites and databases, there do not seem to be any specific records of S. rivulatus from these islands. In order to address the question whether both or only one of these alien siganids occur in the Maltese Islands, all records of siganids collected or photographed in Maltese waters were evaluated. Thirteen records comprising at least 33 specimens supported by photographs or specimens and 25 records of 48 individual rabbitfish identified in the field were all S. luridus. This suggests that S. rivulatus does not occur in Maltese waters.