Westernmost record of the diamondback puffer,Lagocephalus guentheri (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) in the Mediterranean Sea: First record from Greek waters

On 5th November 2017, a puffer fish specimen was caught in the Aegean Sea. Morphological and molecular analysis identified it as Lagocephalus guentheri. This first record from Greek waters represents the westernmost observation of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The expansion and establishment of puffer fish species in the basin are discussed, with particular emphasis on the importance of the additional use of molecular analysis for increasing the efficiency in understanding species spread and dynamics.     

Short communication. First record of larval Brama brama (Pisces: Bramidae) and Corphaena hippurus (Pisces: Coryphaenidae) in the Adriatic Sea

The occurrence of early larval stages of Brama brama and Coryphaena hippurus is reported for the first time in Adriatic waters. Two larvae of B.brama between 4.36 and 5.00 mm, and two larvae of C.hippurus between 4.75 and 4.95 mm standard length, were found in ichthyoplankton collections taken off the River Neretva estuary (43010N, 17°250E) and station Stoncica, island Vis (43°000N, 16°20E) (eastern middle Adriatic), respectively. The capture of both species (B.brama) in August 1998; C.hippurus in May 1998) is in agreement with their proposed seasonal life cycle in the Adriatic Sea.      

Diel feeding and vertical migration of Sagitta serratodentata Krohn tasmanica Thomson (Chaetognatha) in the southern Benguela

The migration and diel feeding of Sagitta serratodentata tasmanicawere investigated at two stations in the southern Benguela.Pronounced diel migration and feeding was observed offshorewhere the food environment was markedly stratified. The inshorepopulation, because of the shallow bottom, did not migrate outof their prey field and did not exhibit a pronounced diel feedingpattern. Copepods comprise almost the entire diet of both populationsand, although Centropages brachiatus was heavily selected for,the data do not differentiate between size or species selection.     

Gonapodasmius epinepheli n. sp. (Didymozoidae) from the grouper Epinephelus tauvina from the Arabian Gulf

A new species, Gonapodasmius epinepheli (Didymozoidae: Gonapodasmiinae), is described from the fish Epinephelus tauvina from the Arabian Gulf. It differs from most other members of the genus in the presence of a bulbous swelling at the distal end of the ovary, the presence of a characteristic bulge in the genital junction region, in the dense mass of glandular cells around the intestinal limbs and in the presence of an empty metraterm and vas deferens in the male and female respectively. The new species represents the first record of a didymozoid trematode from fishes in the Arabian Gulf.     

First record of anomuran and brachyuran larvae (Crustacea: Decapoda) from Antarctic waters

Two decapod crustacean larval morphotypes belonging to the Anomura and Brachyura were found for the first time in Antarctic waters. Nine specimens were obtained from qualitative plankton hauls in Maxwell Bay (Bransfield Strait) (62°14'33S; 58°43'81W) off King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The anomuran morphotype belonged to the Hippidae, and apparently to the genus Emerita, whereas the brachyuran representative was assigned to the genus Pinnotheres (Pinnotheridae). At present, species determination is not possible due to lack of knowledge of larval morphology in both families. Adult forms of these reptant decapods are not known from Antarctic waters; the occurrence of the present larval forms is considered as a possible intrusion of Subantarctic water masses into the Antarctic environment. This hypothesis is supported by the additional presence of the copepod genus Acartia in the same sample material, which is exclusively known from Subantarctic waters.     

First record of the microsporidian parasite Steinhausia mytilovum in Mytilus sp. (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from France

Steinhausia mytilovum is a globally distributed microsporidian parasite which infects the oocytes of the blue mussels Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis. Despite the intensive monitoring effort made on mussel populations, the parasite has not previously been reported in France. We report herein on the occurrence of S. mytilovum in Mytilus sp. from 1 cultured and 2 natural populations on the northern coast of France, thus extending the parasite's known distribution northwards. We also report on the observation in 1989 of S. mytilovum in M. galloprovincialis from the Golfe de Fos area in the Mediterranean Sea (South of France). S. mytilovum was observed in the European hybrid zone between M. edulis and M. galloprovincialis, which therefore renders the exact taxonomic status of the infected hosts unknown. The prevalence of the parasite was low, which suggests that its effect on mussel populations was probably limited.     

First record of the genus Dudresnaya (Dumontiaceae,Rhodophyta) in New Zealand waters

The genus Dudresnaya is reported for the first time in New Zealand waters. Samples were collected in Bay of Islands, northern New Zealand, on rhodolith beds and at the edge of a rocky reef, between ?5 and ?10 m depth. The species was identified by morphological and anatomical characters as Dudresnaya capricornica and its identity was confirmed by molecular sequence data. This species is characterized by terete radial branches, outer cortical cells cylindrical, presence of hexagonal crystals, lack of annulation and mucilage coat on auxiliary cell branches, oblique division of carpogonium and cystocarps no cleft. The rbcL phylogenetic analysis showed the genus Dudresnaya is strongly supported and sister to taxa in the family Dumontiaceae. This family is also closely related to the families Rhizophillidaceae and Kallymeniaceae. This is the first record of the family Dumontiaceae in New Zealand.     

First record of Cynoscion regalis (Pisces,Sciaenidae) in Portuguese continental waters

The occurrence of Cynoscion regalis in Portuguese continental waters is reported for the first time, with six specimens collected in 2015 from three areas: Tagus Estuary, Sado Estuary and Praia da Vieira (central‐west coast). Analyses of morphometric and meristic characteristics confirmed all six specimens as C. regalis; further validation was obtained by sequencing a 675 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene. These records constitute a range extension of C. regalis into the southern north‐east Atlantic Ocean.