Checklist and synonymy of Cnidaria and Ctenophora recorded from Maltese waters

This paper presents an updated checklist of Cnidaria and Ctenophora species documented in Maltese waters, which consists of approximately 160 species. Five species of Ctenophora account for around 15% of the total Mediterranean diversity, while the figure for Cnidaria represents approximately 20% of the Mediterranean total. These are significant figures when considering the historical lack of dedicated research and the inherent challenges in species-level identification within these morphologically diverse groups. This provisional checklist functions as a foundation for future investigations aimed at expanding knowledge about the fauna of the sea surrounding the Maltese Islands.