Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea (Sonder) Verlaque, Huisman and Boudouresque 2003 (Bryopsidales, Caulerpaceae), Percnon gibbesi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Decapoda, Plagusiidae) and Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1838 (Syngnathiformes, Fistulariidae) are reported from the coast, south of Koroni (Messinia, Greece). Sphyraena chrysotaenia Klunzinger, 1884 (Perciformes, Sphyraenidae) is recorded for the first time for this region. The crab Percnon gibbesi is very common along the coastal stretch northeast of Kalamaki beach, while regional observations of Caulerpa racemosa, Sphyraena chrysotaenia and Fistularia commersonii are occasional.

The eleotrid Butis koilomatodon (Bleeker, 1849) is native to estuarine waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, between China and Madagascar. This species has now been recorded at two sites on the Brazilian coastline (Espiríto Santo and Pará state) but so far there have been no published reports of this occurrence. The process through which the species was introduced into Brazil is unclear, although mechanisms such as the discharge of ballast water and biofouling are known to be important factors in the dispersal of marine organisms in Brazil.

A specimen of Pangasius hypophthalmus was captured for the first time in Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Israel. Its occurrence in the lake is probably due to escape from the aquarium of hobbyists..

Specimens of Lucifer hanseni Nobili, 1905 were obtained along the Mediterranean coast of Israel between 2008-2011. A single specimen collected in 1924 from Port Said harbour, Egypt, was hitherto the only record of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The cluster of specimens documented herein suggests the species has recently established a population along the southern Levantine coast.

The aim of this paper is to present the first data on the colonization of the Meuse River by the quagga mussel, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis (Andrusov, 1897). During our study, the quagga mussel was found at several locations in the Dutch and Belgian section. Both quagga and zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771) were sampled and the species identity was confirmed by morphological analysis. Plausible dispersion patterns and colonization routes of D.r. bugensis in the Meuse River are suggested.

The Ponto-Caspian amphipod species Echinogammarus trichiatus (Martynov, 1932) was found in Belgium for the first time in June 2009 at two different locations in an artificial lake bordered by two large canals. Adults as well as juveniles were found in small numbers and occurred together with several other Ponto-Caspian species such as Dikerogammarus villosus (Sowinsky, 1894) and Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771). An identification key to the genus Echinogammarus of inland waters in Western Europe is provided. This first record of yet another new amphipod invader in Belgium demonstrates the continuous introduction of alien species into West European waters.

A red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758), was captured in the Anegada de Adentro Coral Reef (19º13′0.7″N; 96º03′25″W) off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico on January 12, 2012. The collection site is about 700 km (435 mi) from the location where the first lionfish was captured in the Southern Gulf of Mexico in late 2009. The record off the Veracruz suggests that the lionfish may be establishing a well-adapted population along the Mexican coast in the Southern Gulf of Mexico.

Five individuals of Lagocephalus sceleratus were caught by trammel and gill nets off Ain Al Ghazala, Libya (approximately 32°09'N − 23°15'E) between 15 and 25 m depth in September 2010. Our findings represent the first record of this toxic species from Libya and provide further evidence of its occurrence along North African coasts.

The introduction and establishment of arapaima (Arapaima gigas) in southeastern Peru and northwestern Bolivia is an example of a fish species that appears to be increasingly common and widespread in non-native portions of its range, but whose populations are on the decline within its native range. The arapaima is overfished and considered threatened throughout its native range in the Central Amazon. We gathered and examined data on the distribution of fish and wildlife in the Takana II Indigenous Territory in Bolivia, near the arapaima’s reported initial invasion zone in Peru. Results confirmed the presence of arapaima in several water bodies where local people have also reported a strong decline in native fish populations. Further south in the Takana I Indigenous Territory, monitoring of fisheries by local communities (2002-2008), including observations on arapaima catches, indicate that until 2008 arapaima had not been reported in the area. However in 2009, there were reports of arapaima in the Undumo stream. Our results demonstrate that since the first presence of arapaima in Bolivia at the beginning of the 1980s, it has steadily expanded its distribution. We propose actions to mitigate this situation by managing and controlling populations of this invasive and endangered species, as well as improving income for indigenous communities.

Colocasia esculenta, or taro, is an emergent aquatic and semi-aquatic plant, native to Asia, which is cultivated for its edible corm in several parts of the world. This species has colonized or invaded wetlands and rivers in different parts of the world (e.g., Southeast USA, Southwestern Australia, Southern Africa, etc.) thus suggesting that early detection of this species should be conducted. Here we present the first report of an invasive population of C. esculenta in the Iberian Peninsula (Southern Europe). Characteristics of the patches found that serve as an early diagnosis of the degree of invasion and the origin of introduction are given. The current population consists of a number of patches that are heterogeneously distributed along the stream (ca. 7 km). Monospecific Taro patches displace native species and provoke the narrowing of river sections, similar to rivers and wetlands in Australia or the United States where this species is considered an invasive plant. This new record also suggests the ability of this tropical species to withstand the long dry summers typical of the Mediterranean climate within permanent streams.