Sunday, September 16, 2018

Species List: 14-09-2018, Hutchinson Shoal and Aladdins Cave, Flinders Reef, Moreton Island, Qld

33 species sighted at Hutchinson Shoal and Aladdins Cave, Flinders Reef, Moreton Island, Qld, 14-09-2018.

Julie, Terry, David and Gary on this excursion consisting of 1 x 82 minute and 1 x 68 minute dives in water depths up to 15.0 m, up to 20 m viz, 20 C water temp.

The weather looked great so off to Moreton Island we went. First stop Hutchinson Shoal. Before we descended there was a little surface current but we managed to get to the bottom where there was more current. David and I headed down to deeper water and started to locate nudibranchs. We fought the current on our way back to the boat only to find it ripping. Terry was on board to help David and I get our gear off.

We then decided that was enough and steamed to Aladdins Cave on the east side of Flinders Reef. Much better conditions greeted us.

Despite the current of the first dive we managed to find on a small wall with our latest species Tenellia purpureoannulata. On the second dive there were 10 Thuridilla neona recorded. After the dives we headed back to Australia eating Julies cake and melon. A challenging day to say the very least.

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

Aegires flores -/1
Aplysia parvula -/2
Bornella anguilla -/1
Ceratosoma tenue 3/-
Chromodoris elisabethina -/5
Chromodoris lochi 1/1
Chromodoris magnifica -/1
Cratena lineata 1/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 1/-
Dermatobranchus tuberculatus -/1
Diversidoris flava -/4
Doriprismatica atromarginata -/1
Elysia sp. 6 -/1
Eubranchus sp. 3 1/-
Flabellina sp. 1 2/-
Flabellina rubrolineata 6/-
Glossodoris rufomarginata -/1
Goniobranchus geometricus -/1
Goniobranchus sp. 6 -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni -/1
Hypselodoris whitei 1/-
Micromela undatus -/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/1
Pleurobranchus peronii -/3
Sagaminopteron psychedelicum -/1
Tenellia purpureoannulata 1/- NEW SPECIES
Tenellia sp. 9 1/-
Thorunna australis -/1
Thuridilla gracilis -/1
* Thuridilla neona -/10
Verconia laboutei 1/-
Verconia simplex -/1

Our ride

Julie in the current

Dermatobranchus sp. 7

Ceratosoma tenue

Substrate

Hypselodoris whitei

Flabellina rubrolineata

Tenellia sp. 9

Tenellia purpureoannulata  NEW SPECIES

Surface conditions and Moreton Island

Terry and Julie looking smart

Chromodoris elisabethina

Sagaminopteron psychedelicum

Diversidoris flava

Goniobranchus geometricus

Pleurobranchus peronii

Goniobranchus sp. 6 juvenile

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Thuridilla neona

Verconia simplex

Flabellina sp. 1

Ceratosoma tenue

Chromodoris lochi

Cratena lineata

Goniobranchus splendidus

Thorunna australis

Thuridilla gracilis

Thuridilla neona

Aplysia parvula

Micromela undatus

Chromodoris elisabethina 

Glossodoris rufomarginata