Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Species List: 12-03-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

12 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 12-03-2017.

Julie, Terry and David on this single shore entry dive, of 144 minutes. Maximum depth 6.3 m, 26 C water temperature and up to 8 m viz.

It was good to be back in the water again after a break dictated by obligations, weather, mechanical failure and health issues. Conditions were the best we had experienced for some time. Whilst we did not sight as many species as usual we were rewarded with a new find - Pleurobranchus grandis - grand by name and grand by appearance. Some tiny Flabellina angelvaldesi were spotted and it is our hope that they are making a come back to the river. A most enjoyable outing.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Cratena simba -1
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 -1
Flabellina angelvaldesi -3
* Flabellina rubrolineata -6
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus daphne -3
Goniodoridella savignyi -2
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -6
Hypselodoris obscura -2
Philinopsis falciphallus -1
Pleurobranchus grandis -1 New species
Pteraeolidia semperi -1

The "Pillars of Grandis"

Beacon pile with sunburst

Flabellina rubrolineata with spawn

Goniodoridella savignyi

Dermatobranchus sp. 7

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Flabellina angelvaldesi 

Pleurobranchus grandis - new species

Cratena simba

Flabellina rubrolineata - just about
to nip off a hydroid polyp

Goniobranchus daphne