This study presents Parodontophora ningmengi sp. nov., a new species of free-living marine nematode found in the Bohai Sea that was discovered in the seas close to Huanghua Port. An illustrated key for genus identification is included, along with a description of this new species within the genus Parodontophora. As a new species, P. ningmengi sp. nov. exhibits the following major traits: the length of the amphidial sense organs is 0.7 to 0.8 times the length of the buccal cavity, the subcephalic setae are arranged symmetrically, and the body length and cephalic setae are considerably lengthy (2D-2V). The excretory opening is situated just below the middle of the buccal cavity, the dorsal branch of the amphidial sense organ is 20-24 times longer than the ventral branch, and its spicule arc and tail lengths are greater.
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the world's main hotspots for plastic pollution. This is harms all marine fauna, from zooplankton to large species. This note documents a case of an adult common smoothhound Mustelus mustelus of 109 cm total length entangled on plastic debris in the Gabes Gulf. This finding enriches our knowledge on the threat others than fishing on shark species.
A peculiar pattern of the eyed-side pigmentation in a juvenile common topknot Zeugopterus punctatus (Bloch, 1787) (Pleuronectiformes: Scophthalmidae) has been observed during a dive in Brittany (France).
We assessed satellite data of nearshore and offshore wind, sea surface temperatures, and chlorophyll concentrations along latitude 15 degrees S to describe upwelling and productivity during the El Ni & ntilde;o of 2016, the Coastal El Ni & ntilde;o of 2017, and the La Ni & ntilde;a of 2018, and we analyzed in situ measurements of intertidal seawatertemperatures in a hitherto understudied marine protected area near Marcona, Peru between the years 2017 and 2019 coinciding with biological sampling of rocky intertidal mussel communities to describe the effects of the Coastal El Ni & ntilde;o on intertidal communities in the southeastern Pacific. Upwelling occurred year-round with the strongest signal in spring but was restricted to areas close to shore during the El Ni & ntilde;o of 2016. Inshore temperatures on the north side of the Reserve were several degrees cooler than nearshore and offshore temperatures for the years 2017-2019 suggesting that areas of upwelling existed very close to shore. Upwelling favorable winds had a significant effect on nearshore chlorophyll, with the biggest decline in concentrations found between spring 2017 and the La Ni & ntilde;a of 2018. Increases in inshore temperatures coincided with changes in richness and the taxonomic and trophic hierarchies in mussel communities between 2017 and 2019.
Thor's scaldfish Arnoglossus thori was reported from around the British Isles in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but with seemingly few authenticated records in recent decades. An annual trawl survey of the western English Channel operating since 2006 first reported two individuals in 2024, with a further 11 specimens encountered in 2025. These observations confirm the recent presence of A. thori in the western English Channel and the waters of the United Kingdom.
The first record of Sinelobus vanhaareni from the French Atlantic coast, Bay of Biscay, is herein reported. It was found in intertidal oyster reefs, shallow subtidal muddy sediments and algae community, in three estuarinearea with high oscillations of temperature and salinity throughout the year. The specimens correspond mostly to the original description, but some morphological differences were noted and are the result of an intraspecific morphological variability. S. vanhaareni is also remarkably similar to S. kisui, described from Japan, both presenting a flange-like expansion on antenna article 2 and not on article 3, and cheliped apophyses, but can be distinguish by its smaller size and less elongate antennule and antenna articles. Molecular evidence of species delimitation is provided. An update identification key of Sinelobus species is also given.
Habitat complexity plays a crucial role in shaping biotic assemblages and is significant across various ecosystems. This study investigates the structure of epifaunal communities associated with three intertidal algae species: Cystoseira humilis, Halopteris filicina and H. scoparia. These algae support a rich epifauna, with small structural variations among them leading to distinct epifaunal communities. Crustaceans were the most abundant group (3,448 individuals, 67.69% of the total abundance), followed by polychaetes (1,096 ind., 21.52%), mollusks (324 ind., 6.36%), and echinoderms (171 ind., 3.36%). Halopteris filicina exhibited the highest abundance (103.81 +/- 0.12 ind.), while Cystoseira humilis had the lowest (54.48 +/- 0.08 ind.). Conversely, the highest species richness was observed in H. scoparia (65 species), and the lowest in C. humilis (30 species). Multivariate analyses revealed significant differences in epifaunal composition among the algae, attributed to variations in dominant species and the presence of species unique to each alga. Consequently, species abundance and richness appear to be closely linked to the structural differences observed in these algae, which likely reflect varying levels of habitat complexity.
The Western Pacific amblyopine goby, Trypauchenichthys larsonae Murdy, 2008 is only known from its type locality, Northern Territory (Australia), and from the Philippines. Armour eelgoby, Amblyotrypauchen arctocephalus (Alcock, 1890), is known to be distributed in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific, 2024, regular fishing surveys were conducted to document the trawl bycatch finfish assemblage at Veraval Fishing Harbour, northeastern coast of the Arabian Sea. In the outcome of this exploration, a total of sixteen specimens of A. arctocephalus and a single specimen of T. larsonae were collected from trawl bycatch. Amblyotrypauchen arctocephalus is reported for the first time from the Arabian Sea, while T. larsonae marks the westernmost record of this species from the Indian coastal waters. Herein, detailed meristic counts, morphometric measurements, comparisons, and the distribution of the above species are described.
This research was conducted with the intention of determining whether or not octocorals have antiacetylecholinestrasic and antioxidant capabilities. Utilising the alpha, alpha-Diphenyl-beta-PicrylHydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging and in vitro acetylecholinesterase test, this objective was successfully achieved. As positive controls, we used ascorbic acid and galanthamine. Crude extracts were produced from Isis sp.; Rumphella sp.; Melithaea sp. 1.; Melithaea sp. 2.; and Carijoa riisei (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860). These extracts were acquired by the use of methanol extraction. It showed that gorgonian corals, which belong to the order Malacalcyonacea and the family Melithaeidae, specifically Melithaea sp.1, possess a significant amount of antiacetylcholinesterase activity that is dose-dependent. On the other hand, alcyonian corals, which belong to the family Carijoidae, specifically C. riisei, have been reported to have a high level of antioxidant activity. Isis sp. has a far greater antioxidant capacity than the other crude octocoral extracts investigated in this study. Additionally, this study provides the first evidence that members of the Melithaea genus have antiacetylcholinesterase capabilities.
Shape descriptors such as size and weight of the test and Aristotle's lantern provided relevant information on the population dynamics of Paracentrotus lividus harvested from the central coast of Algeria. Furthermore, biochemical analysis of gonads of these species enabled us to determine geographical variations in their nutritional values. The mean sex ratio value of 4.52 +/- 0.06 reveals female dominance. A hypoallometric growth in height vs. diameter in the test without spines (R2 = 0.66). The globosity index shows that the growth of the test expands depending on the diameter. The diameter and weight of the Aristotle's lantern depend on the height and total volume of the test. Sex differences in morphometry indicate that there is an imbalance between the two sexes in favor of males. Proteins were the main component in the gonads (32.59 +/- 1.63% d.w.), available in favor of males. Lipids (8.16 +/- 0.41% d.w.) and carbohydrates (3.74 +/- 0.19% d.w.) are always lower and available in favor of females. The total energy magnitude is strongly correlated with the protein content and energy equivalent of lipids. Males exhibited more energy in their gonads (306 +/- 15 kcal.g-1 d.w.) than females (231 +/- 12 kcal.g-1 d.w.).
Corresponding author: zouaririm.ktari@fstsbz.u-kairouan.tn Abstract: This study provides the first estimation of length-weight relationships (LWRs) for several exotic fish species inhabiting the coastal waters of the Gulf of Gab & egrave;s (eastern Mediterranean Sea), namely Stephanolepis diaspros, Sphyraena chrysotaenia, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, and Fistularia commersonii. Lengthweight relationships were established for combined sexes using a total of 2,284 specimens collected from major commercial harbours along the Gulf of Gab & egrave;s coast. The relationships showed a strong fit between length and weight data. Growth pattern analysis revealed negative allometric growth for S. diaspros (b = 2.6848), S. luridus (b = 2.9705), and S. rivulatus (b = 2.7035), while S. chrysotaenia and F. commersonii exhibited positive allometric growth (b = 3.0696 and b = 3.6298, respectively). The relative condition factor (Kn) ranged from 0.886 to 1.035, indicating a generally good state of health among the studied species. The present findings constitute the first baseline information on the LWRs and relative condition factors of these alien species from the Gulf of Gab & egrave;s. These data will support future fisheries research and provide a scientific basis for the monitoring and management of exotic fish populations in this region of the Mediterranean Sea.
The present study investigates sponge species inhabiting gravelly stone and muddy depths within the circalittoral zone of Dardanos, a unique coral-based Marine Protected Area in the & Ccedil;anakkale Strait. The species examined include Dysidea avara, Dysidea tupha, Halichondria (Halichondria) bowerbanki, and Amphilectus fucorum. Among these, Amphilectus fucorum represents the first record for the Eastern Mediterranean sponge fauna, while Halichondria (Halichondria) bowerbanki and Dysidea tupha are new additions to the marine inventory of the Turkish Straits System. Dysidea avara, a previously known Atlanto-Mediterranean species, is here confirmed from the & Ccedil;anakkale Strait with additional distributional data. The taxonomy, morphological characteristics and distributional patterns of these species are described in detail. With these findings, the number of sponge species known from the Marmara Sea has increased from 84 to 87, highlighting the importance of the strait as a biodiversity hotspot and underlining the need for further systematic surveys and conservation of sponge communities in the region.
This study aimed to investigate the digenean fauna parasitizing the stargazer, Uranoscopus scaber, by examining the species diversity and spatial distribution of parasites within its digestive tract. A total of 904 digeneans were collected, and four species across two families were identified : three species from Cryptogonimidae (Anisocoelium capitellatum, Anisocladium fallax, Anisocladium gracile) and one species from Acanthocolpidae intensity, and mean abundance, revealing one secondary species (A. capitellatum) and three satellite species (A. fallax, A. gracile, S. minutum). Spearman's correlation test indicated no significant relationship between mean abundance, mean intensity, and host size. However, the Mann-Whitney U test showed a significant effect of host sex on A. fallax (p < 0.05). Additionally, the species accumulation curve demonstrated sufficient sampling effort, indicating that the majority of digenean species in the area had been successfully retrieved. Notably, these species represent new records for the parasite fauna associated with Algerian teleost fish, contributing to the understanding of marine biodiversity in this region
The brown mussel Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758) is a circumtropical species with a complex biogeographical history, recently expanding in the eastern Mediterranean. While the status of Perna perna in the Mediterranean Sea remains debated, specifically whether it should be classified as native, cryptogenic, or an introduced species, it has been recorded in several southern Levantine countries, likely facilitated by rising sea surface temperatures. Perna perna is known to thrive in warm-temperate to subtropical waters, typically tolerating temperatures between 12 and 32 degrees C, with optimal performance above 20 degrees C. These thermal preferences overlap with the increasingly warm conditions of the Levantine Basin, which has been identified as one of the fastest-warming marine regions in the Mediterranean. This study reports the first confirmed record of P. perna in Lebanese waters, based on live specimens collected from mediolittoral rocks in Saida on September 7, 2024. Given the region's proximity to the Suez Canal, a principal route for Lessepsian introductions, and its documented susceptibility to non-indigenous species invasions and climate-induced ecosystem shifts, the establishment of P. perna raises concerns about potential impacts on local biodiversity and native assemblages. Furthermore, P. perna has been reported to form dense populations in other parts of its introduced range, where it has displaced native mussels and altered community structures, underscoring its relevance as a species of biosecurity concern. This finding highlights the need for continued monitoring, regional collaboration, and adaptive management strategies to mitigate the potential ecological consequences of its spread in the Levantine Basin.
A specimen of Synodus randalli Cressey, 1981 was caught on November 26, 2024, near Lokrum Island (Adriatic Sea) at a depth of 40 m using a gillnet. The total length of the caught specimen was 216 mm, while the weight was 81.60 g. This represents the first confirmed record of this species in the Adriatic Sea.The rapid spread of this species northwards can probably be explained by the transportation of eggs and larvae in ballast water.
Sporadic records of stranded specimens in the Strait of Messina represented the only source of information about Microichthys coccoi R & uuml;ppell, 1852 until the beginning of the 21st century, when some occasional reports by trawl surveys occurred in eastern Aegean, north Tyrrhenian, north-eastern Ionian, and Balearic seas. Until now, some uncertain exists about the areal, ecology and biology of this rarely collected species, and its morphological features have not been exhaustively described. In this paper, the stranding of two further specimens is reported, together with the first description of the sagitta and the palatal teeth. Some insights into its biology and ecology have also been suggested.
This article deals with the report of two ciliate species, Cothurnia sp. (close to C. auriculata Stiller, 1939) and Cothurnia recurva Clapar & egrave;de & Lachmann, 1859 as epibionts on polychaetes at 5004 m depth of the Indian Ocean. Both species are firstly reported here as epibiont on polychaetes at more than 5000 m depth. Further, information is also provided on deep-sea epibiont ciliates of benthic small invertebrates.
Herein we report the first observation of morphological abnormalities in the alien shrimp Mierspenaeopsis sculptilis (Heller, 1862) collected in Amazon estuarine region. The anomalous specimen was collected in the municipality of Colares (state of Par & aacute;, Brazil) (00 degrees 55'52.00"S-048 degrees 17'31.30"W) in December 2024, during the low tide, through coastal hand trawling. The sampled individuals were fixed in ethanol and deposited in the da Amaz & ocirc;nia (UFRA). Among 10 specimens of M. sculptilis collected, one female showed abnormalities in the carapace including rostrum and antennal spine. The underlying cause of the anomalies observed in this species is unknown; however, we can indicate possible causes in this species such as genetic mutations, nutritional alterations, deformities during ecdysis, or viral infections. Based on that, further studies are needed to assess the possible causes of these deformities observed in this specimen.
This study provides a comprehensive assessment of trace metal (TM) contamination (Al, Cd, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in Chabahar Bay, Northern Oman Sea, Iran. Surface sediments (n = 15) and Chiton lamyi (n = 30) soft tissue and shell samples were collected in December 2024 for analysis. TM concentrations were determined using ICP-OES. Multiple pollution indices were then calculated, including the Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (I-geo), Contamination Factor (CF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), and Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF). Among the studied metals, Cd exhibited the highest levels of contamination. It showed moderate to strong pollution (Igeo: 1.91-3.45), extreme enrichment (EF > 50), and a high contamination factor (CF > 6). Other metals ranged from unpolluted to low levels of contamination. The integrated indices indicated moderate to considerable ecological risk across the study sites. The multivariate analysis revealed that contamination could be attributed to anthropogenic sources such as Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb, whereas Cu, Fe, and Mn likely originated from natural sources. Bioaccumulation patterns differed between soft tissue and shell, with soft tissues accumulating significantly higher levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Ni. The BSAF results highlight the potential of C. lamyi soft tissue as a sensitive bioindicator of Cd and Cu contamination in coastal environments.
Trace metal (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Cu) concentrations and bioaccumulation factors were evaluated for the zooplankton species, Chaetogantha, collected from the Cochin backwaters from March 2017 to January 2019. The mean metal concentration detected in Chaetogantha was Fe (1875.60 +/- 1544.6 & micro;g g(-1)), Zn (210.17 +/- 75.78 & micro;g g(-1)), Mn (47.88 +/- 24.43 & micro;g g(-1)), Cu (34.18 +/- 13.01 & micro;g g(-1)), Cr (26.92 +/- 8.95 & micro;g g(-1)), Ni (26.44 +/- 11.16 & micro;g g(-1)), Pb (10.42 +/- 4.87 & micro;g g(-1)) and Cd (1.83 +/- 0.67 & micro;g g(-1)). Trace metal concentrations in Chaetogantha were higher during the monsoon than post-monsoon or pre-monsoon seasons. Irrespective of seasons, metal concentrations and bioaccumulation factors in Chaetogantha follow a decreasing order: Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd and Fe > Cu > Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cd > Pb, respectively. The concentration of metals detected in Chaetogantha was significantly correlated with dissolved metal concentrations in water. Chaetognatha showed a high potential for accumulation of trace metals, with bioaccumulation factors ranging from a low value of 239 for Pb to a high value of 2972 for Fe. The study provides necessary information on the region's pollution status and points out the suitability of Chaetognatha as a bio-indicator organism.
