We surveyed macrofauna collected from temporary waters in the Hudson Valley, NY, for the presence of Laboulbeniales. A specimen of Oodes amaroides (Coleoptera: Carabidae) hosted Laboulbenia variabilis. This is a new host record and a new vouchered species record for New York.

We report the collection of a single larval specimen of Microdesmus longipinnis (Pink Wormfish) in September 2024 in the tidal Hudson River. This specimen, which is the northernmost record of this species, was probably transported north in the Gulf Stream. Meristics confirmed the identity of the species and link this specimen to a population from the west coast of Florida.

Collections of vertebrates and macroinvertebrates over two years from 26 lentic temporary water bodies each surveyed 1-4 times, in Ulster and Dutchess counties in the Hudson Valley of New York, USA, resulted in identifications of 166 species. These included species resident in temporary waters that have life stages resistant to drying and freezing, species that reproduce in temporary waters that need to mature before drying occurs, predatory species that visit temporary waters, and highly aquatic species that move overland to temporary waters. Temporary waters sampled had a range of hydroperiods from a few weeks to almost a year. Of the macroinvertebrates we identified to species, 75 were each collected in a single pool-survey (n = 62 pool-surveys). Pools with greater volume, more vegetation cover, lower pH and turbidity, and more sodium yielded greater species richness of macroinvertebrates, and species richness of certain taxa (eg Mollusca) were correlated with additional elements. We briefly discuss several unusual animal occurrences.

We report the capture of 10 Symphurus plagiusa (Blackcheek Tonguefish) in 2022 and 2023 at the northern end of their range. These specimens are the first records from the tidal Hudson River, and we document other tonguefish specimens from New York waters from previous records. We establish the identification of juveniles based on caudal fin ray counts and discuss the benefits of community education networks in detecting and monitoring fish species.

We verified pre-settlement Sphoeroides spengleri (Bandtail Puffer) larvae by genetic sequencing and herein describe their morphology and pigmentation. The lead author collected the specimens on a North Carolina beach among stranded Sargassum, which may represent the first record of this species in the Sargassum community along the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Cleared and stained specimens exhibited a declivitous vertebral column that has been reported in few other members of the Tetraodontiformes.

We report the presence of Evorthodus lyricus (Lyre Goby) in a Hudson River tidal wetland in Yonkers, Westchester County, NY. This is the first record for this species in the Hudson River and the first published record north of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. We also provide an identification key to the Oxudercidae and Gobiidae of the Hudson River.

This study resolves a significant impediment to the taxonomy of the Neotropical endemic hematophagous candirus by providing the first high-resolution, CT-based osteological descriptions of type and nontype specimens of Paracanthopoma parva, type species of the genus. We also describe the distinctive new species Paravandellia alleynei based on specimens that were previously misidentified as Parac. parva in the only taxonomic study of that species since its 1935 description. Paracanthopoma parva is distinguished from all nominal congeners by its parietosupraoccipital and caudal skeleton morphology and by various meristics, including numbers of teeth on median premaxilla, vertebrae, and procurrent and principal caudal-fin rays. Paravandellia alleynei differs from both nominal congeners (Paravandellia oxyptera and Paravandellia phaneronema) by the unique morphology of its maxilla, mesethmoid and opercular apparatus, relative position of the pelvic- and anal-fin origins, orientation of the opercular odontodes, and various meristics, including numbers of vertebrae, median premaxillary teeth, medial teeth on premaxilla, branchiostegal rays, opercular and interopercular odontodes, distal claw-like premaxillary teeth, dorsal-fin rays and dentary teeth. This is the first species of Paravandellia recognized from Guyana and the Essequibo River basin. It is currently known only from two type specimens from the lower Essequibo River basin and 43 nontype specimens from the upper Branco River basin. By providing the first skeletal observations for type specimens of the type species Parac. parva and for topotypic specimens of all three nominal species of Paravandellia, we clarify and confirm the diagnosis of Parac. parva and establish a robust foundation for ongoing taxonomic revisions of these two small-sized and species-poor, yet trans-continentally distributed genera, both of which contain considerable unrecognized diversity.

Larvae of the Smallscaled Spinycheek Sleeper (Eleotris perniger) in transition from saltwater to freshwater were identified using COI and 16S gene sequences and the morphology and color pattern were then described. Available freshwater habitat for this species on Montserrat is minimal and continued existence is threatened by potential water withdrawals.

Larvae and small juveniles of Caribbean Polydactylus species (Teleostei: Polynemidae) are rarely seen. Here we describe a juvenile individual of Polydactylus oligodon, the Littlescale threadfin, collected on Montserrat, Lesser Antilles, West Indies.

The cryptic invader, Ferrissia californica (Rowell, 1863) (Gastropoda: Planorbidae), was identified using specimens collected in freshwater streams on Montserrat, West Indies using mtDNA sequences. This is the first record of a freshwater limpet from Montserrat and the third ancyline reported from the Caribbean. Freshwater limpets are small and difficult to find, which suggests that they are present on other islands, and the morphological plasticity of Ferrissia spp. suggests that published records of freshwater limpets from the Caribbean may include misidentified species.

We present records of 3 clam shrimp species from New York: 2 spinicaudatan species-Eulimnadia agassizii (Agassiz Clam Shrimp; the first record for the state) and Cyzicus sp. (the second record of the genus from the state)-and Lynceus brachyurus (Laevicaudata; Holarctic Clam Shrimp; first reported from New York in 1883, is herein documented from the Hudson Valley). Some of the temporary waters that these species inhabit are protected by wetland regulations, but rain-puddle habitat on or along unimproved roads has no such protection.

Recent accessions to the fish collection of the New York State Museum contained specimens of Myrophis punctatus (Speckled Worm Eel) from New York waters. This is the first published documentation of the species in New York based on specimens of the leptocephalus stage and juveniles. Its small size and behavior make the Speckled Worm Eel particularly difficult to sample with conventional gear, and it may be more abundant and widespread than historical observations indicate.

Four populations of the large freshwater ostracod, Chlamydotheca unispinosa (Baird, 1862), were discovered on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. These are the first records of the species on Montserrat and extend its known distribution approximately 113 km northwest and 63 km southeast of the closest known populations on Îles des Saintes (Guadeloupe) and Nevis, respectively. We provide the first DNA barcode for C. unispinosa, a 686 bp fragment of the COI gene which may be used for future comparative studies of this widely distributed species.

Brightly colored prejuvenile Mountain mullet (Agonostomus monticola) immigrating into brackish water on Montserrat are described. Mugilidae may be unique among Caribbean amphidromous fishes in having a brightly colored pelagic marine stage.

Two species of gymnophthalmids are known to inhabit islands in the West Indies, the unisexual Gymnophthalmus underwoodi Grant, 1958 and the bisexual G. pleii Bocourt, 1881, but neither has been previously recorded on Montserrat. Small microteiid lizards were observed between 2008 and 2016 at 5 locations on Montserrat. Scale counts and mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences of specimens confirmed them to be G. underwoodi . The widespread distribution of this ninth lizard species on Montserrat suggests that it has gone undetected for some time or has rapidly colonized the island.

The presence of the freshwater polychaete, Namanereis hummelincki (Augener), on Montserrat is documented for the first time. Although collected in the sediment of a freshwater stream, this subterranean species most likely lives in groundwater aquifers. A mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence obtained from this material supports assignment to the genus Namanereis Chamberlin, and morphological analysis supports identification as N. hummelincki. Differences in jaw morphology observed in the Montserrat specimens may indicate long-term separation from other Caribbean island populations.

The marine fish fauna of New York represents a highly diverse species assemblage, composed of both migratory and resident taxa that utilize a wide variety of habitats. Recently, the New York State Museum took possession of Dr. Howard Reisman's personal ichthyology collection, which included many specimens from Shinnecock Bay, Long Island. Examinations of these specimens has provided evidence to suggest that an additional 4 species should be added to previously compiled lists of marine species known to occur in the vicinity of New York. The prior lack of recognition of the presence of these species in Shinnecock Bay is apparently attributable to a number of factors, including historical taxonomic confusion, actual range expansion, aquarium releases, and simple lack of historical documentation of rare or transient species.