What Branch is it?

How to tell if it is a Janolus.

Our species list now contains two Janolus.

With a profusion of cerata on their dorsum Janolus could easily be mistaken for an aeolid, but in belonging to the Zephyrinidae family the Janolus are armininans not aeolids. Although having an aeolid-like form the most readily observable feature of distinction is that in the Janolus the cerata continue uninterrupted around the anterior margin of the head, a feature no aeolid possesses (refer pic above, from The Collection). A further helpful attribute of distinction is the location of the anal papilla. In Janolus it is located on the dorsal midline posteriorly (see Erik Schlogl's message at www.seaslugforum.net/message/19798 ), whereas in the aeolids it opens to the right anterior quarter usually on the side. Whilst the rhinophores are non-retractile in both the Janolus and the aeolids, the Janolus possess a distinctive ridge between the rhinophores at their bases. This longitudinal ridge is called a caruncle and its purpose is unknown, although some have variously suggested it performs a sensory or defensive purpose.

Costasiella kuroshimae

Costasiella kuroshimae Ichikawa, 1993 has been found by us at two sites now, off Shelly's Beach Caloundra and at Flinders Reef off Cape Moreton. The specimens from Flinders Reef present with a significant and distinctive white spot on the anterior face of all the cerata, towards the tip but below the orange band (Bottom photo). The Shelly's Beach specimens, on the other hand, do not seem to possess this spot, at least not of a noteworthy size (Top photo). We will need to find more examples at different sites to draw any conclusions about this as it is considered a highly variable species in colour.

What Branch is it?

418th Species found on HMAS Brisbane!

Samual LeNoble sent this photo to us from a dive on the HMAS Brisbane in November 2009. It is Janolus sp. 1 50 mm long.

Species List 27-02-10 - Kings Beach Intertidal

Lots of wind and rain so turned over a few rocks.

Dolabrifera dolabrifera
Herviella claror (photo above)

Species List 24-02-10 Flinders Reef - Moreton Island

16 found. 30m viz

Berthella martensi
Berthellina citrina
Chromodoris cf. reticulata
Chromodoris elisabethina
Chromodoris splendida
Costasiella kuroshimae (fourth photo)
Cyerce nigricans (Our 417th Species!)(bottom photo)
Dermatobranchus sp.2
Dermatobranchus sp.3
Elysia verrucosa
Halgerda willeyi
Hypselodoris bullockii
Hypselodoris whitei
Noumea simplex
Polybranchia orientalis (second photo)
Thuridilla splendens

Species List Moreton Island, Flinders Reef

16 Species found
30m viz and glass!

Berthella martensi
Berthellina citrina
Chromodoris cf. reticulata
Chromodoris elisabethina
Chromodoris splendida
Costasiella kuroshimae (4th photo)
Cyerce nigricans Our 417th Species! (bottom photo)
Dermatobranchus sp.2
Dermatobranchus sp.3
Elysia verrucosa
Halgerda willeyi
Hypselodoris bullockii
Hypselodoris whitei
Noumea simplex
Polybranchia orientalis (top photo)
Thuridilla splendens

What Branch is it?

Species List – Currimundi Reef 13/14 -02-2010

18 species found 10m vis.

The Caloundra team finally managed to get our boat back on the water at the weekend after rebuilding the trailer. While it was great to be diving from our own boat again, we were a little disappointed at not being able to add anything new to the species list – but, there is always the next dive!

13/2/10 – C Spot Currimundi

Ceratosoma tenue
Chromodoris cf. reticulata
Glossodoris aff. averni
Glossodoris atromarginata
Glossodoris vespa
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Hypselodoris obscura
Nembrotha purpureolineata
Phyllidia ocellata
Phyllidiella lizae
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Roboastra luteolineata

13/02/10 – Prock Currimundi

Chromodoris splendida
Glossodoris atromarginata
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Hypselodoris obscura
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Sagaminopteron ornatum

14/02/10 – TJs Boulders

Chelidonura inornata (above)
Chromodoris kuiteri
Chromodoris splendida
Glossodoris atromarginata
Glossodoris vespa
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Mexichromis festiva
Phyllidia ocellata
Phyllidiella lizae
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Pteraeolidia ianthina
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Tritoniopsis alba

14/02/10 – Prock Currimundi

Chelidonura inornata
Glossodoris atromarginata
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Hypselodoris obscura
Phyllidia ocellata
Phyllidiella lizae
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Tritoniopsis alba

Species List Shellacey Reef 13-02-10

27 Species found 20m vis

Aegires citrinus
Aegires flores
Chelidonura fulvipuntata
Chelidonura inornata
Chromodoris elisabethina
Chromodoris kuiteri
Chromodoris splendida
Dermatobranchus sp.1
Dermatobranchus sp.2
Glossodoris aff. averni
Glossodoris atromarginata
Glossodoris vespa
Halgerda tessellata
Halgerda willeyi
Hexabranchus sanguineus (bottom photo)
Hypselodoris kanga - Our 416th species!(top photo)
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Hypselodoris whitei
Pectenodoris trilineata
Phyllidia exquisita (center photo)
Phyllidia picta
Phyllidia varicosa
Phyllidiella lizae
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Roboastra luteolineata
Thuridilla splendens
Tritonia sp.1

Species List Coles Hole 06-02-10

9 Species found and alot of surge! Glassy conditions topside!

Chromodoris elisabethina
Dendrodoris fumata (3rd photo)
Glossodoris atromarginata
Glossodoris vespa
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Pectenodoris trilineata
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Thuridilla splendens
Tritoniopsis alba (2nd photo)

David (1st photo), Gary (4th photo)

Species List Shelley Beach 24-01-10

10 Species found

Bornella anguilla
Costasiella kuroshimae (above bottom) This is our 413th species! 5 mm long
Glossodoris atromarginata
Marionia cyanobranchiata
Mexichromis festiva
Pectenodoris trilineata
Phyllodesmium colemani (above top) many found!
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Tritoniopsis alba

Species List Flinders Reef Moreton Island 23-01-10

12 Species found

Chelidonura inornata
Chromodoris burni
Chromodoris splendida
Chromodoris strigata(above bottom)
Cratena lineata
Cratena simaba
Dermatobranchus sp.1
Dermatobranchus sp.2
Durvilledoris pusilla
Flabellina rubrolineata
Hypselodoris maritima
Moridilla brockii (above top)

Shark - what shark?????

Species List from Wolf Rock 16/17-01-10

12 Species found

Chromodoris cf. reticulata (above)
Chromodoris conchyliata
Chromodoris geometrica
Chromodoris splendida
Flabellina rubrolineata
Glossodoris rubroannulata
Goniodoridella savignyi
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Hypselodoris obscura
Hypselodoris whitei
Hypselodoris zephyra
Roboastra luteolineata
Plus numerous Nurse Sharks (above)
they did not hinder my search...
Photos Terry Farr

Happy Birthday Terry!

Well I guess in every brancher's life an anniversary comes around. Terry of the Caloundra Branch...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 23 years old right??

Species List The Trench 10-01-10

20 Species found

Aegires flores
Bornella anguilla
Chelidonura fulvipuntata
Chromodoris elisabethina
Chromodoris kuiteri
Dermatobranchus ornatus
Dermatobranchus sp.1
Glossodoris atromarginata
Glossodoris rubroannulata
Glossodoris vespa
Gymnodoris alba
Halgerda aurantiomaculata
Hexabranchus sanguineus
Hypselodoris jacksoni (above feeding)
Phyllidia ocellata
Phyllidia picta
Phyllidiella lizae
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Thuridilla splendens
Tritoniopsis alba

Species List Mooloolaba Rock Wall Ledges 09-01-10

Dive with Nick and Nat found 5 species

Cyerce nigra (above)
Gymnodoris alba
Hydatina physis
Hypselodoris obscura
Phyllodesmium crypticum

Caloundra

The 'Caloundra Branch' finished the year searching a few rock pools on the northern end of Shelly's Beach and around Kings Beach boat ramp. On 30/12/2009 we had a quick look in the rock pools at Kings Beach Boat Ramp after a swim and managed to find a Herviella claror under a rock. The following day we searched the pools on the Shelly's Beach for a short while and found a few Aplysia dactylomela and a Marionia pustulosa and Vayssierea caledonica.

On the first day of the new year we again spent some time in the rock pools around the Kings Beach boat ramp and found a few more Aplysia dactylomela and a Dendrodoris nigra.

We finally managed a dive on 2/01/2010 at the northern end of Currimundi Reef and found the following:

20 Species found

Chromodoris collingwoodi
Chromodoris daphne
Chromodoris splendida
Dermatobranchus ornatus
Glossodoris aff. averni
Glossodoris atromarginata
Glossodoris vespa
Gymnodoris alba
Hypselodoris bullockii
Hypselodoris emma
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Jorunna sp. 2
Jorunna sp. 4 (above)
Mexichromis festiva
Nembrotha purpureolineata
Phyllidia ocellata
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Pteraeolidia ianthina
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Tritoniopsis alba