Species List: 28-09-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld

21 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 28-09-2017.

A single shore entry dive by Julie, Terry, Gary and David of 127 minutes. Maximum depth 6.2 m, 24 C  water temperature and up to 5 m viz. The quality of the viz was directly proportional to the distance down current from other divers.

For this dive we all decided to use our semi-dry suits as we were kitting up in the noon-day heat. Conditions looked inviting as we entered the water at the Fish-cage steps and drifted back somewhat with the current prior to descending. A very relaxing dive ensued due to the small tidal variation, the only drawback being that any stirred up silt took a little time to clear away behind us. Some good finds  were made by The Team including Colinatys sp. 1, Doto sp. 4, Lomanotus sp. 4, Dendrodoris denisoni, Plocamopherus ceylonicus and a version of Goniodoridella sp. 5 that exhibits a plain white foot rather than the red spotted variety we normally see here. Also, a new addition to our Sunshine Coast list is Elysia sp. 19. The number of Goniobranchus daphne sighted is worth remarking upon as well. This species and its fellow family members are sponge feeders however the sponges they are feeding on must be infinitesimal among the grains of sand and algal cover.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus (Shell) -1
Colinatys sp. 1 -1
Cratena lineata -1
Cratena simba -2
Dendrodoris denisoni -1
Doto sp. 4 -3
Elysia sp. 19 -1 (New species)
Flabellina rubrolineata -7
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
* Goniobranchus daphne -25
Goniodoridella savignyi -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -7
Goniodoridella sp. 5 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 9 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -6
Lomanotus sp. 4 -5
Plocamopherus ceylonicus -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -1
Tenellia sp. 23 -1
Tenellia sp. 24 -3

Tenellia sp. 24

Lomanotus sp. 4

Cratena simba

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Dendrodoris denisoni

Gymnodoris sp. 9

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniobranchus daphne

Flabellina rubrolineata

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Dive site access

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Atys semistriatus - shell

Colinatys sp. 1

Substrate

Plocamopherus ceylonicus

Substrate

Doto sp. 4

Hypselodoris obscura

Cratena lineata

Elysia sp. 19 - New species

Elysia sp. 19

Goniodoridella sp. 5 - a variety without 

the red spotting to the foot sole

Species List: 26-09-2017, Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld

2 species sighted at Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 26-09-2017.

Another stroll by Julie along the northern end of Lake Kawana, around to the floating pontoon. Maximum depth 200mm.

Checking on the Elysia bangtawaensis along the northern edge of the lake, Julie stopped to check out the sand near the floating pontoon on the north-east side of the lake. She was pleasantly surprised to find numerous Polycera melanosticta crawling on the sand and floating upside down on the surface of the water. They ranged in size from approximately 3mm to 10mm.

Number of species sighted

Elysia bangtawaensis - 6+
Polycera melanosticta - 20+

Polycera melanosticta - foot

Polycera melanosticta 

Species List: 19-09-2017, Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld

1 species sighted at Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld 19-09-2017.

A lunch time walk along the northern end of Lake Kawana by Julie. Maximum depth 200mm to top of rocks.

Out again on a lunch time stroll and ever vigilant, Julie spied these critters on the rocks amongst the algae. Initially inspected from the concrete ledge, Julie took off her shoes and rolled up her fancy pants and climbed down into the lake for a closer inspection to confirm the identification. Happy that they were Elysia bangtawaensis, Julie then had to unceremoniously clamber back out of the lake, certain that other lunch time walkers thought she was mad!. This is the second time this species has been sighted in Lake Kawana. They were initially spotted on 14-07-2015 (also by Julie out walking).

Number of species sighted

Elysia bangtawaensis - 6

In-situ at Lake Kawana

Elysia bangtawaensis

Elysia bangtawaensis

Species List: 28-08-2017, Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld

1 new species sighted at Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld 28-08-2017.

A lunch time walk along the western side of Lake Kawana by Julie. Maximum depth 100mm.

Whilst out for a lunch time stroll, Julie chanced upon this critter crawling on the sand. Whilst it bears similarities to Gymnodoris sp. 11 we have separated it out due to the gill structure and colour of the rhinophores being different from G. sp. 11.

Number of species sighted

Gymnodoris sp. 18 - 1

Gymnodoris sp. 18

Lake Kawana - location of sighting

Species List: 27-09-2017, Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld

2 species sighted at Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 27-09-2017.

A single entry by Gary at the south end of Lake Kawana by the office blocks. Maximum depth 400 mm, 24 C water.

Checking out the southern end of the lake for Elysia bangtawaensis I was surprised to find Elysia hirasei, another new species. The animals were found on the vertical wall between the bottom and the walkway. There were also six E. bangtawaensis specimens found here as well.

Number of species sighted

Elysia bangtawaensis -6
Elysia hirasei -10

Elysia hirasei (typical)

Elysia sp. hirasei in-situ

The walk way were the animals were found

Species List: 25-09-2017, Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld

1 species sighted at Lake Kawana, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 23-09-2017.

A single entry by Gary near the south end of Lake Kawana in an alcove near the round-about and Community Certre. Maximum depth 400 mm, 24 C water.

Since finding Elysia bangtawaensis at the north end of Lake Kawana I decided to check the southern end for this species. Walking along the edge and searching the bottom was very surprising. Rocks would have literally hundreds of animals crawling over them. The sizes ranged from 10 mm to 30 mm, not as large as the animals at the north end.

Number of species sighted

Elysia bangtawaensis -200+

The blue dot is the area these masses were found.

The red dot is where the others were found.

The alcove

View from the walk

Size comparisons

The masses...