Nudibranch Central

Friday, February 15, 2019

Species List: 14-02-2019, Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

18 species sighted at Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 14-02-2019.

A single shore entry dive by Gary, Gail and Chris of 181 minutes. Maximum de5.8 m, 28 C water temperature and up to 2 m viz.

With a south-westerly blowing boat diving is out of the question. Out of the 3 entry points in the river 2 of them have been ripped out for replacement. Never-the-less the river looks inviting but a little dirty with the tidal flow being so low. On the bottom we had up to 2 m viz and the silt just hung there waiting for us to escape. Despite that, we managed to record 18 species and a couple of rare ones. Nice to see Goniobranchus aureopurpureus in the river again as well as Okenia sp. 4.

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus shell -1
Atys sp. shell -1 (Waiting for confirmation)
Cratena lineata -4
* Doto sp. 6 -10
Eubranchus sp. 10 -1
Facelina sp. 11 -2
Flabellina rubrolineata -3
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus daphne -1
Goniodoridella savignyi -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -4
Gymnodoris sp. 20 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 21 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -5
Noumeaella sp. 1 -1
Okenia sp. 4 -1
Tenellia sibogae -1
Thuridilla carlsoni -2

Entry

Tenellia sibogae

Cratena lineata

Substrate

Goniobranchus daphne

Doto sp. 6

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Facelina sp. 11

Flabellina rubrolineata

Cratena lineata

Hypselodoris obscura

Substrate

Okenia sp. 4

Thuridilla carlsoni

Atys sp. shell

Doto sp. 6

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Atys semistriatus shell

Eubranchus sp. 10

Goniodoridella savignyi

Noumeaella sp. 1

Thuridilla carlsoni

Gymnodoris sp. 21

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Facelina sp. 11

Gymnodoris sp. 20

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Species List: 12-02-2019, Fish Cage up river, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

12 species sighted at Fish Cage up river, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 12-02-2019.

A single shore entry dive by Gary, Gail and Adele of 204 minutes. Maximum depth 5.8 m, 28 C water temperature and 5+ m viz.

I thought we might try Fish Cage up river again to see it diversity had improved. The first half of the dive was really scarce as far as differnt species goes. Maybe the 28C water temp has caused the decline. The sandy areas are really silt covered. However the hydroids have been productive. The golden hydroids have returned to the Fish Cage and one Tenellia sibogae was sighted.

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena lineata -1
Diversidoris sp. 2 -1
Doto sp. 6 -2
Elysia sp. 18 -1
Eubranchus sp. 3 -4
* Eubranchus sp. 10 -8
Flabellina rubrolineata -4
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3
Hypselodoris obscura -3
Retusa sp. 5 shell -1
Tenellia sibogae -1
Thuridilla carlsoni -1