Thursday, January 9, 2014

Species List: King's Beach Boat Ramp, Caloundra, Sub-tidal, 04-01-2014


14 species found during a single shore dive from King's Beach Boat Ramp, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast.
Terry, Julie and David on this excursion of one 136 minute dive to the SE in water depths to 7m. 2m viz, 26C water temp and some surge.

Again we were greeted by copious amounts of disassociated floating Asparagopsis weed that fortunately thinned out the further we progressed and tended to settle as the tide changed. There is no doubt the species count and the quality of the photography were affected by the surge.

- Number of species sighted: 1st dive/ 2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count

Chromodoris splendida 2
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 9
Gymnodoris alba 1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2
Hypselodoris maritima 2
Hypselodoris obscura 1
Mexichromis festiva 4
Mexichromis trilineata 1
Phyllodesmium crypticum 1
Pteraeolidia ianthina 2
Sagaminopteron ornatum 2
Stiliger aureomarginatus 6
Tritoniopsis alba 5
Umbraculum umbraculum 1

Surface conditions & antics

The view below

Chromodoris splendida

Mexichromis trilineata

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Gymnodoris alba 

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Stiliger aureomarginatus

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Phyllodesmium crypticum

The substrate comes into view 
as the weed settles out.

Tritoniopsis alba - hiding

Mexichromis festiva - amongst the algae

Hypselodoris obscura

Hypselodoris maritima

Stiliger aureomarginatus on Codium.

Stiliger aureomarginatus - a pair

Umbraculum umbraculum - very cryptic