On 27 November 2011, a whale resembling a True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, was found stranded on the South Island of New Zealand. Sequencing of two mitochondrial regions (cytochrome b and mtDNA control region) confirmed species identification as a True's beaked whale that was genetically identified as female. Further examination of the carcass found that the whale was pregnant although decomposition excluded determination of the age of the foetus. This specimen is confirmed as the first record of the species in New Zealand further supporting New Zealand as a whale stranding hotspot.

The presence of the offshore rockfish, Pontinus kuhlii (Scorpaeniformes, Scorpaenidae), is reported for the first time in Maltese waters (Strait of Sicily). One specimen was caught offshore Gozo (Maltese archipelago) in October 2013 by bottom longline. The eastward range expansion within the Mediterranean of this Atlantic species is discussed.

We report the first record of intersexuality in little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus caught in the Mediterranean Sea. The little tunny were sampled in traps from La Azohía (Murcia) south-eastern Spanish Mediterranean coast and Tarifa (Cádiz) between April and June, during 2003 to 2012. We found a low prevalence of intersexuality (two specimens out of a total of 449 little tunny). We show a detailed histological description.

The specimens of Paralepas maculata on a sea urchin, Prionocidaris sp. were collected in Okinawa, southern Japan. This species has not been reported since its original description. This represents the first observation of this species from Okinawa and the first instance found on this sea urchin species. In this paper, the morphology of the new P. maculata specimens is reported, and compared with the type series of this species. Small individuals were found on the holotype. The probable androdioecious sexual system of the species, which includes dwarf-male like individuals and hermaphrodites, is discussed. This study was facilitated by the collaboration of scientists and aquarium staff, suggesting the potential of such collaborations in biodiversity studies.

We revised the zoogeographical distribution of mysids in the south-west Atlantic, from northern Brazil to Argentina (0° to 40°S), providing body length, and temperature and salinity range of occurrence for each species. All information concerning mysids from the south-west Atlantic was obtained from published/unpublished studies. Of currently 1128 mysids species described worldwide, only 31 were recorded in the south-west Atlantic which are distributed in 14 genera, 6 subfamilies and one family. This extremely low number of recorded species highlights the need for further studies focusing on mysids in the south-west Atlantic.

This is the first record of the black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus being found in the eastern English Channel. A specimen was caught on 15 October 2012 off the port of Courseulles-sur-mer. It measured 31.6 cm and weighted 800 g. From a study of its sagittal otolith, this specimen appeared to be 9 years old.

Here we report on the first records of the families Parazoanthidae and Microzoanthidae and by extension for the suborder Macrocnemina (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Zoantharia) from the Red Sea. Despite a long history of zoantharian research in the region, previous records only reported species of the suborder Brachycnemina, from the genera Zoanthus and Palythoa. Both Parazoanthus sp. and Microzoanthus sp. specimens were first found from the same small coral cave at a reef at Jaz'air Sila, Saudi Arabia, and subsequently observed at another location in the northern Red Sea. Numerous Antipathozoanthus sp. colonies were observed at Marker 9 north of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia in association with antipatharians inside small caves. The Parazoanthus sp. was in association with numerous encrusting sponge species on the roof of the cave, similar to previously reported undescribed species in the Pacific Ocean. Microzoanthus sp. was found on hard rubble on the cave floor. These records represent large range extensions (e.g. thousands of kilometres) for each genus, demonstrating the overall lack of research on the order Zoantharia, especially within the Red Sea.

The occurrence of the hoplonemertean Emplectonema neesii in the north-east Atlantic has been reported from Iceland to France. This paper provides the first record of E. neesii in Galicia (north-west Spain), possibly the most southern location, if the previous records under this name from the Mediterranean referred to a different species. Morphological data and pictures of this species are provided.

Holothuria (Holothuria) dakarensis (Holothuroidea: Holothuriidae) is recorded for the first time in the south-western Atlantic, from mangroves in Macau, Rio Grande do Norte State, and deposited in the Coleção de Invertebrados Paulo Young, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil.

The decapod Hippolyte prideauxiana is a cryptic commensal of the crinoid Antedon bifida, giving rise to its common name ‘the feather star shrimp’. In 2010 and 2013 H. prideauxiana was recorded in the Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands (‘north isles’), northern Scotland. These observations widen the known geographical distribution of this species by 400 km north from the west coast of Scotland where it was first recorded in 1997. Whilst it is possible that these new records are the result of a range expansion due to climate change it is more likely that this species has been overlooked due to its cryptic coloration, limited awareness of this species and increase in survey effort in the north of Scotland using SCUBA.

The occurrence of Monodactylus kottelati is reported for the first time from the Chilika Lagoon extending the range of the species to the east coast of India and providing the first substantiated report of the species from Indian waters. The 79 mm standard length specimen from Chilika Lagoon is described in the present paper. Its affinity and distribution is also discussed.

Two reef fish species, Pseudolabrus guentheri and Chromis nitida, traditionally restricted to the central and southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) were observed in the northern GBR. This range extension is unusual as it runs contrary to the general expectations of poleward range shifts associated with climate change.

Polycerella emertoni and Favorinus ghanensis were originally described from Connecticut and Ghana respectively. While the last species has been found only twice since it was described, P. emertoni has already been reported in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (Portugal, Gulf of Cadiz and Gulf of Naples). In this paper, we provide new records of both species from the region of Agadir (Morocco). Since the specimens studied in this paper were collected within harbour areas, we suggest shipping activities as the most plausible vector of introduction.

Three specimens of the genus Corambe were found in the intertidal zone of Santos, São Paulo (Brazil); two of them were identified as C. evelinae and one as C. carambola. Both species are reported for the first time since more than about 40 years ago.

The long-finned mullet, Osteomugil perusii was caught along the eastern and western coasts of India. The finding of 12 specimens extends the current knowledge about the distribution of this mullet in the western Indo-Pacific to the Indian coast.

Specimens of the deep-water sipunculan worm Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) turnerae were recently collected from the western part of the Mediterranean Sea. This species is characterized by hooks showing a peculiar anterior stout and long projection at their base. A key to all the Phascolosoma species found in the Mediterranean Sea is included.

Zoobotryon verticillatum, a widely dispersed stoloniferous fouling bryozoan, has been recently recorded from specimens collected from the hulls of vessels berthed in an Israeli marina. Though conspicuous and distinctive, it has been rarely recorded in surveys of the bryozoan fauna along the Levant coastline conducted over the past half century. It is suggested the species is native to the Caribbean Sea, and an invasive alien elsewhere, including the Mediterranean Sea.

Indonesia has a diverse range of cetacean species, yet there are few records of their distribution, especially from remote regions. Incidental sightings from aerial surveys were conducted in 2006 and boat-based surveys were conducted from 2006–2011 in Raja Ampat in the Bird's Head Seascape, Indonesia. This paper is the first to provide a species list and an indication of the spatial and temporal distribution of cetaceans in central and southern Raja Ampat. Seven dolphin and six whale species were documented, including Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins Sousa chinensis, Bryde's Balaenoptera edeni, sperm Physeter macrocephalus, killer Orcinus orca and pygmy killer Feresa attenuata whales. Temporal differences in sightings suggest Raja Ampat is an important area for migratory whale species and resident populations of Indo-Pacific humpback Sousa chinensis, spinner Stenella longirostris and common bottlenose Tursiops truncatus dolphins. Cetacean diversity was highest in the months of January–February, May and October–November, with most sightings recorded in Kofiau marine protected area and Dampier and Sagewin Straits. Diversity and species distribution data are critical for managing cetaceans in Indonesia. Emerging threats to cetaceans in Raja Ampat include seismic surveys for seabed oil and gas exploration, potential strikes from increasing ship traffic, entanglement in fishing nets and increasing discharge of plastic pollution from urban areas. In addition to regulations for marine protected areas, a wider conservation strategy is required to address or better manage emerging threats to Raja Ampat, and to ensure the long-term protection of resident and migratory dolphin and whale species.

A specimen of Malthopsis gnoma was collected at 154 m on the continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico in 2003. This constitutes the second record of this species for Mexican waters and the first for the southern Gulf of Mexico.

A record of a healthy specimen of slender sunfish Ranzania laevis with an amputated anal fin and healed scars is described from the south-western Indian Ocean. This is the first evidence of nektonic pelagic fish survival in spite of the ablation of a major locomotory organ and the first indication of non-lethal predation on adult slender sunfish.