Nudibranch Central

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Species List: 19-09-2019, Toilet Block, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

25 species sighted at Toilet Block, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, 19-09-2019.

A single shore entry dive by Gary and Steve of 180 minutes. Maximum depth 6.5 m, 21 C water temperature and up to 10 m viz.

Steve's last day of the river. 21C water temp was expected. Low tidal flow and plenty of ambient sun light. Finding Abronica purpureoanulata from under a rock was a nice find with it's double banded rhinophores and oral tentacles. This site is well known for its Pteraeolidia semperi population and today was no exception. A rather large Pleurobranchus peronii was recorded from under a rock, as well as a beautiful Phyllodesmium opalescens.

In 3 dives - 9 hours of bottom time - 2 divers = 46 species and a total of 381 animals recorded.

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Abronica purpureoanulata -1
Atys semistriatus shell -1
Bulbaeolidia alba -4
Cratena lineata -1
Cratena simba -1
Doto sp. 6 -2
Facelina sp. 7 -1
Favorinus sp. 1 -1
Flabellina lotos -7
Goniobranchus daphne -11
Goniobranchus decorus -5
Goniodoridella savignyi -5
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -18
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -3
Gymnodoris sp. 17 -3
Haminoea sp. shell -1
Hypselodoris obscura -5
Hypselodoris whitei -1
Jorunna sp. 6 -1
Phyllodesmium opalescens -1
Pleurobranchus peronii -1
* Pteraeolidia semperi -21
Tenellia sibogae -7
Tenellia sp. 23 -3
Tenellia sp. 56 -2

Entry

Steve just wondering about water seeping in his dry suit

Steve ready to search

Tenellia sibogae

Substrate

Doto sp. 6

Facelina sp. 7

Favorinus sp. 1

Pteraeolidia semperi

Hypselodoris obscura gills retracted

Goniobranchus daphne

Abronica purpureoanulata

Channel marker

Atys semistriatus shell

Steve hard at it!

Phyllodesmium opalescens

Goniodoridella savignyi

Jorunna sp. 6

Tenellia sp. 56

Pleurobranchus peronii

Flabellina lotos

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Goniobranchus daphne

Pteraeolidia semperi

Gymnodoris sp. 17

Bulbaeolidia alba

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Tenellia sp. 23

Gymnodoris sp. 17

Haminoea sp. shell

Tenellia sibogae

Goniobranchus decorus

Cratena simba

Tenellia sp. 56

Pteraeolidia semperi mating

Goniobranchus decorus

Hypselodoris obscura juvenile

Goniobranchus decorus juvenile

Pteraeolidia semperi juvenile

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Species List: 18-09-2019, Rotunda, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

23 species sighted at Rotunda, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, 18-09-2019.

A single shore entry dive by Gary and Steve of 172 minutes. Maximum depth 6.0 m, 20 C water temperature and up to 8 m viz.

This time Steve and I dived Rotunda. The vis was great and the tidal flow was minimal. Locating a small Niparaya sp. 4 was a good find, getting a photo was great. Oddly only one Pteraeolidia semperi was found. If you want beauty, then finding Goniobranchus aureopurpureus and Dendrodoris denisoni were there to impress! Doto sp. 6 were found in groups mixed into the hydroid stalks and egg masses. This was the second dive this spring where the water temp was 21C.

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena lineata -15
Cratena simba -2
Dendrodoris denisoni -1
Doto sp. 6 -13
Eubranchus sp. 10 -1
Facelina bourailli -2
Facelina sp. 12 -
Flabellina lotos -5
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus daphne -4
Goniodoridella savignyi -11
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -32
Gymnodoris sp. 17 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -6
Hypselodoris zephyra -1
Niparaya sp. 4 -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -1
Tenellia sp. 23 -2
Tenellia sp. 29 -3
Thuridilla carlsoni -4
Unidentia sp. 4 -1
Unidentia sp. 6 -1
Verconia simplex -1