Julie, Terry, and David on this single shore entry dive of 114 minutes in depths to 6.5m. 5m viz and 20C water temp.
We entered the river waters not long after sunrise and endured the constant whine of outboard engines as the boating fraternity all took advantage of the excellent weather conditions to motor down the river and head offshore. This dive has produced the best species count so far for the river site. A couple were sighted that we have not seen here previously and the Pleurobranchus weberi are thriving. Interestingly not a single Unidentia angelvaldesi was to be seen, unusual considering the numbers that we have been recording. The Gymnodoris sp. 8 is a new species for us and although being all white is different to Gymnodoris sp. 3 in that its gills are arranged in a shallow arc rather than a tight complete circle. The Gymnodoris alba also may not be that species. We feel there are at least 3 cryptic species on that page on this website. We will have to await a good revision of this family. The Polycera is our Polycera risbeci and only found by us once before. The Elysia sp. 11 was previously called by us Elysia verrucosa but Kathe Jensen who described E. verrucosa has discounted that in correspondence with Bill Rudman on the Sea Slug Forum. She cites three external anatomical differences.
Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count
Analogium amakusanum 6
Bulbaeolidia alba 3
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 2
Doto sp. 3 2
Elysia sp. 11 1
Facelina sp. 4 1
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus 1
Goniobranchus daphne 8
Goniobranchus decorus 1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 3
Gymnodoris alba 4
Gymnodoris sp. 8 1 (New species)
Hypselodoris obscura 4
Phestilla minor 1
Phidiana bourailli 2
Pleurobranchus weberi 7
Polycera risbeci 1
* Pteraeolidia ianthina 9
Trinchesia sibogae 2
Substrate
Pleurobranchus weberi
Bulbaeolidia alba
Analogium amakusanum
Goniobranchus decorus
Pteraeolidia ianthina
Dermatobranchus cf. primus
Gymnodoris sp. 8 (New species)
Facelina sp. 4
Phestilla minor
Phestilla minor
Doto sp. 3
Doto sp. 3 - head shot
Goniodoridella sp. 1
Goniobranchus daphne
Hypselodoris obscura
Gymnodoris alba (for now)
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus
Trinchesia sibogae
Phidiana bourailli
Elysia sp. 11
Polycera risbeci
