Four specimens of the peristediid genus Satyrichthys were sampled with bottom long-lines from a depth of 180 m during the VA ‘Farumas’ Reef Fish Survey off North Malé Atoll, Maldives, in 1999. The largest and smallest of these specimens were deposited at Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum (BPBM 34965, standard length (SL) 278.25 mm; BPBM 41160, SL 413.65 mm). Based on measurements and meristic counts, BPBM 34965 is characterized as Satyrichthys laticeps and BPBM 41160 is characterized as Satyrichthys cf. kikingeri. Satyrichthys laticeps is not only recorded for the first time for the Republic of the Maldives, but also complements distribution data on the species in the north-eastern Indian Ocean. Satyrichthys kikingeri, hitherto known only from a single specimen collected in 2012 from Rasdhoo Atoll in the Maldives, is now documented by a second specimen.

Three specimens of Platyscelus armatus (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea: Platyscelidae) are reported from coastal waters of the Canary Islands, Spain; these are the first records from these waters. The specimens were collected south-west of Tenerife and El Hierro Islands during the ‘CETOBAPH 2012' (April 2012) oceanographic cruise. Morphological and morphometric measurements of the specimens, geographical and bathymetric distribution of this species and a key to species of the genus reported in the Canary Islands are provided.

The occurrence of the lumbrinerid polychaete Gallardoneris iberica along the North Adriatic coast is here reported for the first time. The specimens of G. iberica have been recently discovered and described from the Portuguese continental shelf. Specimens of G. iberica collected in the Adriatic Sea were compared with paratypes and some relevant morphological characters were revised, illustrated and discussed. The record of G. iberica here reported represents a new addition to the fauna of Italian marine waters extending hence the geographical distribution of the genus Gallardoneris to the Mediterranean Sea.

In January 2011, a group of 11 Indo-Pacific common dolphins Delphinus capensis tropicalis stranded in the central estuary of Bandar-e-Jask in Hormozgan Province (near the entrance to the Persian Gulf), Iran. All of them were females and just one is believed to have survived. Two individuals were pregnant. All carcasses were examined for biometry and genetic samples were obtained for subsequent analysis. They all appeared to have been in a good state of health prior to death without any signs of human-related injuries. A comprehensive investigation into the possible causes for mortality could not be conducted. However, the available evidence suggests that the most likely reason for the stranding was the complex topographic and oceanographic conditions, which may have caused the animals to be trapped by the rapidly falling spring tide.

The African brown snapper Lutjanus dentatus is a fish native of the West African coastal zone of the Atlantic Ocean. Here we document the first recorded capture of this species in the Canary Islands, an archipelago close to Africa, in August 2013.

Previous studies indicated that a tropical shad Tenualosa ilisha is found from northern Sumatra of Indonesia in the east to Kuwait in the west. In Malaysia two species, Tenualosa toil and Tenualosa macrura, have been recorded from Borneo. This is the first record of the occurrence of T. ilisha in Malaysian waters. The new record suggests the urgent need for studies of biology and population dynamics for this commercially important Malaysian species.

Observations, photographs, and video footage of a 337 cm total length female smalltooth sand tiger shark, Odontaspis ferox made at a depth of 348 m on the northern slope of San Ambrosio Island in the Desventuradas Islands (26°19.456′S 79°52.281′W) on 25 February 2013 represent not just the first record of this species in Chilean waters, but the first in the entire south-eastern Pacific Ocean, marking a tremendous range extension of this species. We also summarize the few known occurrences of this species along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America.

Despite its extreme geographical isolation, numerous expeditions have surveyed the marine flora and fauna of Johnston Atoll. However, historical information about the marine biodiversity of Johnston is mostly limited to SCUBA surveys in shallow-waters (<30 m), and submersible observations in deeper waters (100–500 m). Extensive coral reefs, known as mesophotic coral ecosystems, exist between these two depth ranges at Johnston, but have remained largely unexplored. We used closed-circuit rebreathers to survey eleven sites at mesophotic depths (32–78 m) surrounding Johnston Atoll. A total of 130 species were recorded, including 99 species of fish, 15 species of corals, nine species of macroalgae, three species of echinoderms, three species of sponges and one species of squat lobster. Most species recorded during our mesophotic surveys have previously been recorded on shallow-water (<30 m) reefs at Johnston, with the exception of one black coral, one zoanthid, one squat lobster, two macroalgae, three sponges, and 22 fish, which represent new records for the atoll. As noted in previous studies, our surveys found a near absence of endemism, and recorded high proportions of species that are also known from the Hawaiian Archipelago. The similarity between the mesophotic biodiversity of Johnston Atoll and Hawaiʻi provides further support for the strong connectivity between these two locations highlighted in previous studies.

A spinetail devilray (Mobula japanica) was recorded for the first time in the western waters of Australia. The beach-stranded individual was observed in March 2013 on the southern coast of Western Australia (latitude 34.8811°S, longitude 118.4079°E). This is the southernmost record of this species in Australian waters. Previous Australian records of this species have been restricted to the east coast, where sightings have been within the latitudinal range of 14–33°S. The individual observed in Western Australia was a mature male, with a disc width of 257 cm. The occurrence coincided with the maximum recorded summer sea surface temperature (22.0°C) along the southern coast of Western Australia and an abnormally strong flow in the Leeuwin Current for that time of year.

A specimen of the Mocosa ruff Schedophilus haedrichi was collected at a depth of 295–350 m from off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This specimen constitutes the first record of the species in Costa Rican waters and a north-west range extension of about 750 km on known distribution. A brief description of the specimen as well as comparative morphometric data and distributional information are proposed.

Rafting is proposed as the mechanism of dispersal influencing the speciation and population structure of Hippocampus. Recently, rafting was confirmed in Hippocampus patagonicus by the direct observation of juveniles attached to floating debris. This study discusses the implications of the record of an individual in deep waters, suggesting that the species can disperse away from their coastal populations.

Metamysidopsis macaensis is reported for the first time in the south of Brazil, and a comparative analysis of morphological characteristics between the original description of the species and a female described here is made. The occurrence of the species in the south of Brazil and exclusively in the Brazilian shelf suggests this species has a wide distribution along the Brazilian shelf. The morphological differences between the holotype and the female described here are significant and suggest that the original description was probably made based on an immature female.

The first record of the hen-like blenny Aidablennius sphynx from the Syrian waters is reported. Monthly fish samples were taken along the Syrian coast throughout the period 2012–2013 and 21 individuals were caught at one location only during September 2012 and September 2013. Their morphometric and meristic characteristics are reported.

Sharp-tail sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus) occurrence in Indian seas is uncommon and its taxonomy is still in controversy. The species was hooked in a sub-surface long-line during an exploratory survey for oceanic tuna and allied fish within the Indian exclusive economic zone in the Lakshadweep Sea along the west coast of India by survey ship MFV ‘Yellow Fin’ attached to the Fishery Survey of India, Mormugoa, Goa, India. It is reported to be the first Masturus species in the Lakshadweep Sea. The sample weighted 100 kg and had a total length of 147 cm. The morphometric and meristic measurements were made and results indicated; the species recorded was the third largest in total length and the heaviest in terms of mass compared to earlier reports in Indian seas.

There is a worldwide concern about the expansion of non-indigenous species because they may threaten local biodiversity as some of them may successfully outcompete native species. We report on the presence of two introduced mud worm species, Boccardia proboscidea and Boccardiella hamata, in the southern North Sea, where the former species has been discovered on groynes along the Belgian coast and both species were detected among Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas in the south-western Dutch delta. Boccardia proboscidea is native to the North Pacific and was first detected in Europe along the Spanish Basque coast in 1996. Our record is the third for European waters and the first for the North Sea. Although B. proboscidea occurs in limited numbers and in ephemeral habitats along the Belgian coast, the species probably has established a permanent population, since it has been reported repeatedly after its first discovery in January 2011. Boccardiella hamata is native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. This species has never been recorded from Europe before.Our research demonstrates that in under-studied habitats, such as man-made hard substrata, even well-established populations of newly introduced species may stay undetected. Due to a lack of monitoring of these particular habitats and insufficient knowledge about introduced biota, introduced species may pass unnoticed or may be overlooked for several years. A dedicated monitoring will be necessary to detect introduced species in an early stage. In view of the upcoming Marine Strategy Framework Directive requirements such monitoring will be inevitable.

An ovigerous Maja spider crab was captured during a fishery research cruise in the North Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean, near the city of Malaga. From morphological characters this individual was identified as Maja brachydactyla. Prior to the specimen being returned alive back to sea, it was measured, photographed, and a portion of a pleopod excised for genetic analysis. The latter confirmed the identification as correct. An additional seven specimens collected from Caleta de Velez in the vicinity of Malaga were morphologically examined, confirming the presence of M. brachydactyla in the Alboran Sea. This finding would represent the first evidence of the species occurring in the western Mediterranean Sea, with apparently well-established populations.

The Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis is a tropical and warm temperature small cetacean endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. Here we report the first sighting of this species from the waters of Uruguay, further expanding the distribution of this species to 35°S.

The capture of one specimen of Chilomycterus spinosus mauretanicus from the Andalusian coast (Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean) represents the first record in Mediterranean waters.

The family Polychelidae includes thirty-eight species of blind deep-sea lobsters distributed in six genera. Five species are recorded from the south-western Atlantic region: Pentacheles laevis; Pentacheles validus; Polycheles typhlops; Stereomastis sculpta; and Willemoesia forceps. Herein we analysed material sampled in deep Brazilian waters adding the first record of Stereomastis nana to the south-western Atlantic region. An identification key to all south-western Atlantic polychelids is provided.