Opistognathus evermanni (Jordan & Snyder, 1902), the first distributional record from Indian coastal waters

A single female specimen of jawfish Opistognathus evermanni (Perciformes: Opistognathidae) was recorded with the standard length of 73.17 mm from Mudasal Odai fish landing centre, along Parangipettai coast, Southeast coast of India. Opistognathus evermanni possesses X + 12 dorsal spine and rays by the head are large, its width greater than that of body and uniformly pigmented, gill rakers are very long and slender, 10 + 20 found on first arch. Spinous dorsal fin, Caudal and anal fins are which are also very dark in coloration and possess two white stripes. The species O. evermanni locality was previously known only from the coastal waters of Japan. The present study reports the first record of O. evermanni along the Southeast Coast of India that found a new addition to the Indian coastal ichthyofauna.     

First record of Boulenger's anthias Sacura boulengeri (Heemstra 1973) in the Red Sea

In November 2020, we observed several individuals and collected one juvenile of an unidentified anthiadine fish (Serranidae) between depths of 250 and 307 m near vertical walls of rocky reefs in the northern Red Sea. Further morphological and molecular analyses revealed that the collected specimen matches Sacura boulengeri, a species previously reported only from the Gulf of Oman to India.     

First record and further description of the Cape hagfish Myxine capensis(Myxinidae) off Mozambique, western Indian Ocean

The first record of the Cape hagfish Myxine capensis in Mozambican waters is reported based on a single 356 mm total length specimen taken by bottom trawl off Maputo, 25° 52·9' S; 34° 42·7' E - 25° 54·1' S; 34° 41·0' E, at depths from 557 to 564 m. This account also represents the northernmost record of a hagfish in the western Indian Ocean. Morphometric and meristic data are provided and compared with those of 27 specimens (including the holotype) caught off Namibia and South Africa.     

Validity of the agonid fish,Podothecus hamlini,and the first confirmed record from Japanese waters

An erratum to this article is available at .     

First record of the Pacific seahorse Hippocampus ingens in Guadalupe Island,Mexico

This is the first record of the Pacific seahorse Hippocampus ingens at a northern oceanic island from the eastern Pacific Ocean. The photographic record of the juvenile female H. ingens was made in November 2015 during a cage diving trip at Guadalupe Island, Mexico. The presence of H. ingens in this area could be related to long distance dispersal mechanisms, as has been observed in other species of seahorses.     

First record of the paedomorphic fish Schindleria (Gobioidei, Schindleriidae) from the Red Sea

A male specimen of the paedomorphic fish Schindleria sp. was collected by plankton net, in February 2005, from a reef lagoon from Hurghada on the Egyptian coast of the northern Red Sea. This is the first record of the Schindleriidae in the Red Sea.     

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.     

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 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.