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This study examines the distribution of the red scorpionfish, Scorpaena scrofa Linnaeus, 1758, in the Red Sea, in order to get a better picture of the distribution and dispersal of this species. The species is recorded for the first time from the Gulf of Aqaba, based on a specimen collected off Eilat, Israel at a depth of 400 m. This finding also confirms the occurrence of the species in the Red Sea and links up with a recent record from Saya de Malha Bank, western Indian Ocean.

The sea bream Diplodus levantinus n. sp. is described from off the coasts of Israel in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where it replaces Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758). The new species is characterized by 11-12 spines and 10-16 soft rays in the dorsal fin, 3 spines and 11-13 soft rays in the anal fin, 15-17 pectoral fin rays, 6-9 + 8-12 gill rakers on the first gill arch, upper and lower jaws with a single row of 4 incisors on each side, followed by a total of 16-19 molariform teeth in the upper jaw and 12-14 molariform teeth in the lower jaw, with the molariforms of the upper jaw separated from the incisors by a wide, toothless gap, and the sides of the body in adults with 8 vertical bars of equal width which are present even in large adults, followed by a broad bar on the caudal peduncle which usually nearly reaches the ventral margin of the caudal peduncle. An updated checklist of the species of the genus Diplodus, and a key to species of the Diplodus sargus species group from the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, are presented.

The toothy goby, Pleurosicya mossambica Smith, 1959, is recorded for the first time from Eilat, Israel, Gulf of Aqaba. The status of Pleurosicya sinaia Goren, 1984 is discussed; that nominal species is treated as a junior synonym of P. mossambica.

The Golden anchovy Stolephorus insularis was recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean near Tel-Aviv, Israel on 7 August 2009. This northern Indian Ocean species evidently reached the Mediterranean by crossing the Suez Canal from the Red Sea. Since then, several specimens were collected over a period of time which indicates that this species has established a viable population in the Levant.

The Indo-Pacific fish Terapon jarbua is recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean. This record is evidentially the result of T. jarbua entering the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal (Lessepsian migration). The present record increases the total number of known Lessepsian fish to 74. A comparison of Mediterranean and Red Sea specimens of T. jarbua with specimens from the Far East suggests the necessity for genetic studies in order to clarify the unity of this taxon. El pez indo-pacífico Terapon jarbua se ha recolectado por primera vez en el Mediterráneo. Este registro es evidentemente el resultado de la entrada de T. jarbua en el Mediterráneo vía el Canal de Suez (migración Lessepsiana). El presenta registro incrementa el número total de peces Lessepsianos a 74. La comparación de especímenes de T. jarbua mediterráneos y del mar Rojo de los de zona lejanas del Este sugiere la necesidad de estudios genéticos para poder clarificar la unidad de este taxon.

The Red Sea record of the Ambon scorpionfishPteroidichthys amboinensisis confirmed based on two specimens collected at Eilat, Israel in 1966 and in 1997. The species is widespread but very rare, known from scattered localities in the Indo-West Pacific, otherwise occurring from India and Indonesia east to Marquesas Islands.

A single specimen of a sub-adult specimen of the Atlantic species, Acanthurus coeruleus Bloch et Schneider, 1801, was collected in the Mediterranean coast of Israel. This collection was the first confirmed record of this species in the Mediterranean since hitherto it was known from this region only by a single underwater photograph from Cyprus. We postulate that this species may be considered as having established a population in this region.

The slender ponyfish Equulites elongatus was recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean near Tel-Aviv, Israel on 27 May 2011. This Indo-Pacific species evidently reached the Mediterranean by crossing the Suez Canal.