Sunday, February 14, 2016

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 12-02-2016

17 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Gary and David on this single, shore entry dive of 152 minutes. Maximum depth 7 m, 26 C water temperature and 2 m viz.

Once again the Flabellina angelvaldesi did not disappoint by being present in large numbers. A couple of no-so-common species were sighted. The Pleurobranchus grandis we have seen before but only around the 15 mm size whereas this time it was 60 mm. This still is nowhere near full adult size however which can reach 200 mm. This is the first time we have been able to photograph Doto sp. 3 in situ.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Bulbaeolidia alba -1
Cratena lineata -1
Dermatobranchus oculus -4
Doto sp. 3 -1
* Flabellina angelvaldesi -115
Flabellina rubrolineata -1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi -3
Goniobranchus daphne -19
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -7
Gymnodoris sp. 9 -2
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hoplodoris nodulosa -1
Hypselodoris obscura -7
Pleurobranchus grandis (sub-adult) -1
Pleurobranchus weberi -2
Pteraeolidia semperi -10
Tornatina sp. 1 -1

Surface conditions - looking downstream

Dermatobranchus oculus - 5 mm

Flabellina angelvaldesi - 18 mm

Pteraeolidia semperi - 90 mm

Goniodoridella sp. 1 - 3 mm - a pair

Hypselodoris obscura - 40 mm

Flabellina rubrolineata - 30 mm

Bulbaeolidia alba - 8 mm

Goniobranchus daphne - 25 mm

Doto sp. 3 -  4 mm - in situ

Doto sp. 3 - 4 mm

Pleurobranchus weberi - 150 mm - mating pair

Hoplodoris nodulosa - 50 mm

Cratena lineata - 6 mm

Tornatina sp. 1 - 2 mm

Goniobranchus collingwoodi - 30 mm

Gymnodoris sp. 9 - 8 mm

Pleurobranchus grandis - 60 mm