A checklist of the marine fish fauna of Turkey is presented for the first time. Examination of the previous studies revealed the presence of 448 species in 133 families. A total of 45 species, that has a doubtful presence at Turkish seas, was briefly discussed. The ichthyofaunal similarities of seas surrounding Turkey were compared, and the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara were found to be 55.6% similar, whereas, the proportion computed for the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea was 83.2%.

Two Red Sea immigrant fish species, Fistularia commersoni (Fistularidae) and Sphyraena flavicauda (Sphyraenidae), are reported for the first time from the Anatolian coast (Turkey) and for the second time from the Mediterranean Sea. Occurrence of Lagocephalus suezensis (Tetraodontidae) at the southern Turkish coast is substantiated and a new record of this species in the Aegean Sea is presented.

Length–weight relationships were estimated for 18 Red Sea immigrant fish species from the eastern Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. The values of the exponent b in the length–weight regression (W= aLb) ranged between 2·482 and 3·355. The median value was 3·018 and 50% of the values ranged between 2·835 and 3·121.

The morphological characteristics of peripheral blood cells, micronucleated erythrocytes counts and plasma biochemistry profile were examined in ten healthy captive European pond turtles Emys orbicularis. Blood samples were obtained from the caudal vein. The Wright staining method was used for the classification of the blood cells. Mature erythrocytes of captive Emys orbicularis were nucleated ellipsoidal cells (21.7 ±1.27µm × 13.2 ±1.12 µm) with pink cytoplasm. The nucleus (6.9 ± 0.78 µm × 5.4 ± 0.65 µm) was centrally located and stained dark purple. Seven different types of blood cells were determined: erythrocytes, thrombocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and heterophils. The micronucleated erythrocyte (MNE) values were 0.0016 and 0.003 for the males and females, respectively. The MNE results were presented as the mean frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes per 1000 cells per animal.The mean plasma concentrations in the total of specimens were as follows: total protein (25 g/L), albumin We suggest that the biochemical profile described in the present study may be used as a standard profile for healthy Emys orbicularis kept in captivity.

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