Prof P.J. Schembri from the university who is a marine biologist sent me some info on this section.
The sea urchin shown is of a (usually) deep water sea urchin called Stylocidaris affinis. This is not an alien species but a native Mediterranean one. However, there is another species that looks quite like it but is dark brown that is an alien, introduced from the Atlantic, which has established populations inside the Grand Harbour (Kalkara Creek) and Marsamxett Harbour (Sliema Creek) at depths of less than 10m.
The starfish is a species called Coscinasterias tenuispina which is also native and quitre common. Having 7-9 arms of unequal length is a characteristic of this species.
The crab shown is indeed an alien species sometimes called the 'Sally Lightfoot Crab'. However, it does not come from the Red Sea but tropical and substropical regions of the west and east Atlantic and the east Pacific. The scientific name is Percnon gibbesi and it was first recorded from Malta in 2001 and has since spread rapidly to become on of the commonest shallow water crabs locally.
The 'cubic' jellyfish are indeed a species of box-jellyfish. This is a native Mediterranean species called Carybdea marsupialis which is the only Mediterranean species of box-jellyfish (technically, the Cubozoa). This species is an even more potent stinger than the larger and much commoner 'Purple Stinger' that has plagued Maltese shores in recent years. Avoid contact with this dangerous species.
Two species of alien Rabbitfishes have established themselves in the Mediterranean. Both have entered from the Suez Canal, spread in the eastern Mediterranean and have now reached the Central Mediterranean. One species, Siganus luridus is now well established in the Maltese Islands. The other species, Siganus rivulatus has been recorded from Malta but these records need to be confirmed by examination of actual specimens or very good quality photographs, since the two species of Siganus are very similar to each other. The photographs labelled as 'Siganus rivulatus' on the forum do indeed appear to show this species, but there is no indication if these photographs were taken in local waters; if they were, these probably confirm the occurrence of this species locally.
The final photographs show a Cornetfish, which is another alien species that has recently reached the Maltese islands -- however the species in Malta is Fistularia commersonii which has entered the Mediterranean from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. It is now also quite common in Malta. The other Fistularia in the Mediterranean is Fistularia pertimba which has entered the Mediterranea from the Atlantic via Gibraltar, but so far this species is only known from the far western Mediterranean (Spain).
So on some of the species I was mistaken as they were native. I also told Prof. P.J.Schembri that if anyone in this forum 'discovers' any species I'll let him know and if possible send him photos.
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