Abstract: The organismic assemblage associated with Caretta caretta was studied in 37 loggerhead turtles, washed ashore dead at various localities in the northern Aegean Sea. A total number of 63 macrobenthic species and 17 species of macroalgae were identi¢ed. From these species, 41 and 13 respectively are reported for the ¢rst time as epibionts of this turtle. Analysis of the epibiont species distribution on six loggerhead turtles gave some evidence regarding the settlement preferences of certain epibiont species. From a biogeographical point of view, 61.3% of the epibiont species were cosmopolitan, 30.7% had an Atlanto-Mediterranean distribution, while 8% were Mediterranean endemics.

Abstract: In order to elucidate the distinction of Atyaephyra desmarestii subspecies (A. d. desmarestii, A. d. orientalis, A. d. stankoi and A. d. mesopotamica) and investigate their geographical distribution in Greece, the main morphological features and somatometric ratios were studied in numerous specimens collected from a dense station network of Greek fresh waters. Specimens from Belgium, Portugal, Albania and Turkey were also examined. Atyaephyra desmarestii was found in western and northern Greece while it was absent in eastern Greece, the Aegean and the Ionian islands. The comparison of the obtained data with those of the literature revealed a clearly overlapping variability of the main key morphological features among the four subspecies. The results of this study indicate that the current A. desmarestii subspecies are not valid on the basis of the used key features. There is only one very variable species with many ecophenotypes.

Abstract: Twenty-nine dead loggerhead turtles, washed ashore at various localities in northern Greece, were sampled. Study of the material collected revealed 9 species of Cirripedia Thoracica.Chelonibia patula (Ranzani, 1818), Balanus perforatus Bruguière, 1789, and Pachylasma giganteum (Philippi, 1836) are reported for the Ž rst time as epibionts of Caretta caretta. The results are discussed in relation to the relevant literature.