35 species found at Nudi Ledge, Currimundi, Sunshine Coast.
Terry and David on this excursion comprising 1 x 84 minute & 1 x 77 minute dives in water depths of 14m to 18m. 5m viz, 22C water temp and no surge.
The run of good weather continues and we would be mad not to take advantage of it considering the bad weather that plagued us through winter and spring. The Caloundra bar was so flat it was difficult to ascertain the channel on the trip out. We particularly like this site because of the range of species also to be found on the silty substrate that runs right up to a 2m high rocky wall and plateau that are covered in all manner of sessile growth. The specimens of Pleurobranchus peronii were very large. Although Doriprismatica atromarginata wins the official count we do believe the numerous Dermatobranchus cf. primus in the silt probably outnumbered them if we had taken the time to photograph them all. Facelina sp. 6 was a good find as too was the Trinchesia sp. that although it had lost many of its cerata is a new find for us.
Number of species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
*Species with highest specimen count
Aegires flores -/2
Berthella martensi -/1
Bulbaeolidia alba -/1
Cratena lineata -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri -/1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 8/6
Dermatobranchus ornatus 6/5
Diversidoris flava 1/-
*Doriprismatica atromarginata 9/7
Facelina sp. 6 -/1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi 2/-
Goniobranchus tinctorius 1/-
Gymnodoris alba 2/2
Hoplodoris nodulosa -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/4
Hypselodoris maritima -/1
Hypselodoris obscura 1/-
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 1/-
Jorunna sp. 3 1/1
Mexichromis festiva 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 2/2
Phyllidia varicosa -/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/1
Phyllidiopsis cardinalis 1/-
Phyllodesmium crypticum 1/-
Phyllodesmium magnum 1/-
Phyllodesmium macphersonae 1/1
Pleurobranchus peronii -/2
Pteraeolidia ianthina -/1
Roboastra luteolineata 3/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum -/2
Trinchesia sp. 21 1/- (new species)
Tritoniopsis alba 1/-
Tylodina corticalis 5/1
Surface conditions
Mexichromis festiva
Dermatobranchus cf. primus -
many small specimens on the silt
Doriprismatica atromarginata
Tritoniopsis alba
Roboastra luteolineata
Hypselodoris sagamiensis
Diversidoris flava
Goniobranchus collingwoodi
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Dermatobranchus cf. primus
Pleurobranchus peronii -
two very large specimens sighted
Hypselodoris maritima
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Aegires flores
Pteraeolidia ianthina
Hoplodoris nodulosa
Berthella martensi - some mantle
segments autotomized exposing the gill.
Phyllidia varicosa
Trinchesia sp. 21 (new species) -
many cerata had been autotomized.
Facelina sp. 6
Tylodina corticalis -
two's company three's....
Jorunna sp. 3
Gymnodoris alba
Phyllidiopsis cardinalis
Goniobranchus tinctorius - white spots
on a red background rather than a red
reticulation on a white background.
Phyllodesmium magnum
Phyllodesmium macphersonae -
ploughing through the growth.
Dermatobranchus ornatus - demonstrating
why we are seeing so many of these lately.
Phyllodesmium crypticum
Cratena lineata
Bulbaeolidia alba
Hypselodoris jacksoni
