Deep-sea bamboo corals (Family Isididae: subfamily Keratoisidinae) are a widely distributed group of gorgonian octocorals, commonly found in the deep sea below 200 m, with the deepest specimen to date collected at 4700 m. Two specimens were collected from the seamounts off Tasmania at depths of 3065 to 3950 m. In situ high-definition images, compound microscopy of preserved specimens, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) provided morphological data on distinguishing morphological characters such as colony shape and branching pattern, polyp arrangement, composition of the axial skeleton, and shape and arrangement of the sclerites. The genus Bathygorgia Wright, 1885 is resurrected and distinguished from Keratoisis, and two new species, B. abyssicola and B. tasmaniensis are added.

During a survey of the epipelagic zooplankton of the Isla del Coco, an oceanic island off the coast of Costa Rica, eastern tropical Pacific, female and male specimens of a pontellid calanoid copepod belonging to the genus Pontella were collected. It was recognized as an undescribed species belonging to the Pontella fera species-group. It is most closely related to P. tenuiremis Giesbrecht, 1889 and P. fera Dana, 1849. The new species, P. cocoensis, can be distinguished from these and other congeners by having a unique combination of characters including: 1) the female genital double-somite has a longer lateral process than that illustrated by Giesbrecht (1893) for P. tenuiremis, 2) the lateral genital process bears two subdistal rounded protuberances; 3) the right margin of the genital double-somite is swollen and lacks a process; 4) the presence of modified, arrow-shaped setae on several segments of the female antennule; 5) a short, telescoped female anal somite; and 6) a thumb-like process with a rounded protuberance on the medial surface of the first exopodal segment of the male leg 5. The mouthparts, with sparsely spinulate setae on both the maxilla and maxilliped, and bicuspidate teeth on the mandibular edge, suggest that this new species is omnivorous. This is the first species of Pontella described from Costa Rican waters.

The white-footed mouse, Musculus leucopus Rafinesque, 1818 (= Peromyscus leucopus), is a common small mammal that is widespread in the eastern and central United States. Its abundance in many habitats renders it ecologically important, and its status as a reservoir for hantavirus and Lyme disease gives the species medical and economic significance. The recognition of two cytotypes and up to 17 morphological subspecies of P. leucopus indicates considerable variation in the species, and to understand this variation, it is important that the nominate subspecies be adequately defined so as to act as a standard for comparison. Relevant to this standard for the white-footed mouse is its type locality, which has generally been accepted to be either the vague “pine barrens of Kentucky” or the mouth of the Ohio River. Newly assembled information regarding the life and travels of Constantine S. Rafinesque, the North American naturalist who described P. leucopus, establishes that Rafinesque observed this species in July 1818 while visiting Shippingport, Kentucky, which is now within the city limits of Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky. Shippingport is therefore the actual type locality for this species.

We describe an additional species in the oegopsid squid family Onychoteuthidae from the Gulf of Mexico. Although similar to Onykia rancureli Okutani (=Callimachus rancureli sensu Bolstad), the species described here differs by having fewer hooks and carpal suckers on the tentacle clubs and a wider head. In considering the generic relationships of this species, we briefly review the genera Walvisteuthis, Callimachus, and Onykia and conclude that the proper genus for this species is Walvisteuthis and that this genus is indeed an onychoteuthid rather than comprising a monogeneric family Walvisteuthidae.

Several surveys of polychaetes from intertidal and deep water habitats in the Gulf of California, Mexico have yielded nine species of Notomastus (Annelida: Capitellidae), three being undescribed species: Notomastus landini n. sp., Notomastus lobulatus n. sp. and Notomastus fauchaldi n. sp. Standardized descriptions are provided for all species including details of epithelial texture, position of lateral organs, shape of noto-and neuropodial lobes, the shape of hooded hooks and the methyl green staining pattern. In addition, a key to all Notomastus species included in the Gulf of California is provided.