Although classified as an ‘endangered’ species in Singapore (Lim et al., 2008: 202), this species appears to be the most commonly seen cetacean in Singapore waters, where it was likely to have been mistaken for common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the past (Sigurdsson & Yang, 1990: 30-32). The skeleton of the present carcass will be deposited at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the National University of Singapore.

It was suspected that the dolphins were attracted by the activity of the observers at the shore, and hence swam close to them, possibly out of curiosity. Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are sometimes observed in the Singapore Straits, as well as the eastern Johor Straits. In Singapore, this species is regarded as ‘endangered’ (Lim et al., 2008: 202)

In Singapore, the Indochinese rat snake ‘appears to be fairly common in rural areas where it feeds on rodents and frogs’ (Lim & Lim, 1992: 56). Baker & Lim (2012: 161) do not illustrate this species in their guide book, but regard it as a native species that is locally ‘widespread but uncommon’.

The influence of human-modified coasts on fish communities exposed to episodic environmental disturbance is poorly researched. To examine the influence of a tropical marina on nearshore ichthyofauna during a harmful algal bloom (HAB) event, we surveyed the fish communities within and outside Raffles Marina, Singapore, in a catch-and-release sampling program. Mean fish species richness, catch abundance, and diversity were higher within Raffles Marina before the HAB event. Immediately after the event, abundance and species richness of the fishes within the marina significantly decreased. Pre-HAB fish community index levels were attained six months after the event. No significant changes in community richness and abundance were observed outside the marina. Consistently, more fishes were caught within the marina than outside it. After one year, fish community structure within and outside Raffles Marina were significantly different when compared to pre-HAB levels. Our results suggest that Raffles Marina may mitigate local perturbations by providing shelter to fish communities. The need to understand how other artificial structures affect nearshore biota in light of increasingly frequent impacts is highlighted.

Iniistius bakunawa, new species, is described on the basis of nine specimens consisting of the holotype and six paratypes collected from fish markets in the islands of Panay, Cebu, Bohol, and Jolo in the Philippines, and two paratypes from the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia. The new species is distinctive in having a pale yellowish to jade green body with a large concentric black and white ellipsoid ocellus on the posteriormost edge of its dorsal fin. Aside from live colouration details, the new species is readily diagnosed from congeners in having the following combination of characters: 7 horizontal rows of scales on cheek; gill rakers 4–6 + 8–11 = 12–17; gill rakers short, bearing teeth; and tubed lateral line scales 23–26. Assignment of the new species to the genus Iniistius is accompanied with a brief discussion of the currently inadequate diagnosis of the genus from Xyrichtys.