Species List: Kings Beach, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, 20-11-2014

15 species sighted during this shore dive at Kings Beach, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, and Terry on this 124 minute single shore-entry dive in depths from 2.5 to 6 m. Positively balmy 24C water temp, 8 m viz. and light surge.

Northerly winds meant that boat diving was not an ideal option on Thursday, however it meant that conditions were finally suitable to check out Kings Beach after a long hiatus.  The visibility was very good for this site and, despite a large amount of different algae, the reef looks fairly healthy.  The critters were out in significant numbers for this site, with Umbraculum umbraculum still around and laying eggs.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Ardeadoris aff. averni - 1
Cyerce sp. - 1 (Found on Dictyota bartayresiana)
Dermatobranchus cf. primus - 3
*Doriprismatica atromarginata - 23
Goniobranchus splendidus - 6
Gymnodoris alba - 3
Gymnodoris okinawae - 4
Hypselodoris obscura - 9
Hypselodoris whitei - 2
Julia exquisita - 1
Mexichromis festiva - 13
Mexichromis trilineata - 2
Micromelo undatus - 1
Thuridilla carlsoni - 1
Umbraculum umbraculum - 2

 

Julia exquisita

 

Gymnodoris alba

 Julia exquisita - on Dictyota
dichotoma var. intricata (we think!)

Terry going low and slow

Substrate

 Surface conditions

 Micromelo undatus

 Hypselodoris whitei

 Umbraculum umbraculum - laying eggs from
the outside in

 Gymnodoris okinawae

 Cyerce sp.

Species List: Terry's Delight, Arkwright Shoals off Coolum, Sunshine Coast, 11-11-2014

18 species sighted at Terry's Delight, Arkwright Shoals off Coolum, Sunshine Coast.

Terry and David on this single dive of 68 minutes to depths between 14 and 20m. 23C water temperature, 5m viz and lots of surge.

Mischief is now relocated to Mooloolaba and we were keen to take her out for a run. Conditions were as forecast on the run up to Point Arkwright and supposed to improve but unfortunately deteriorated quickly once we had entered the water. The surge was incredible and this is reflected in the lack of in-focus images for the report. We were surprised that the species count was even this high given that surge. We decided enough was enough after an hour in those washing machine conditions and surfaced to increased wind and swell and so cancelled the second dive.


Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count


Chelidonura inornata -3
Dermatobranchus cf. primus -2
*Doriprismatica atromarginata -7
Elysia maoria -2
Glossodoris vespa -1
*Hypselodoris jacksoni -7
Hypselodoris obscura -1
Jorunna sp. 3 -1
Lobiger souverbii -1
Miamira magnifica -1
Oxynoe viridis -2
Phyllidia exquisita -1
Phyllidia ocellata -1
Phyllidiella lizae -1
Phyllidiella pustulosa -1
Sagaminopteron ornatum -2
Tritoniopsis alba -1
Tylodina corticalis -1

Substrate

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Tylodina corticalis

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Jorunna sp. 3

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Chelidonura inornata

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 23-10-2014

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

Julie, Terry and David on this 123 minute single shore-entry night dive in depths to 6.7m. 23C water temp and 5m viz.

The sun had departed the sky when we entered the water ensuring there was plenty of time for the creatures of the night to emerge. The winner of the count was Pleurobranchus peronii who presented themselves not only in large numbers but in many shades of orange and red. The highlight and an absolute delightful find was what we are calling Notobryon wardi, a new species and number 600 to our list - a milestone. We can now die happy or perhaps set a new goal. This dive has produced our highest species count thus far for this rewarding site.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus - 3
Analogium amakusanum - 1
Bulla vernicosa - 1
Chelidonura fulvipunctata - 1
Cratena lineata - 3
Elysia sp. 11 - 1
Facelina sp. 8 - 9
Favorinus sp. 1 - 7
Flabellina rubrolineata - 3
Goniobranchus daphne - 6
Goniobranchus geometricus - 1
Gymnodoris alba - 1
Hoplodoris nodulosa - 3
Hydatina physis - 1
Hypselodoris obscura - 1
Lomanotus sp. 2 - 2
Lomanotus sp. 3 - 1
Notobryon wardi - 1 (New species - No. 600)
Philinopsis pilsbryi - 1
Phyllaplysia sp. 1 - 4
Phyllodesmium opalescens - 2
Phyllodesmium sp. 4 - 3
*Pleurobranchus peronii - 13
Pteraeolidia ianthina - 1
Rostanga sp. 1 - 1
Sakuraeolis nungunoides - 8
Trinchesia sibogae - 1
Unidentia angelvaldesi - 11

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Notobryon wardi - New species - No. 600

Hydatina physis

Gymnodoris alba

Rostanga sp. 1

Phyllodesmium opalescens

Trinchesia sibogae

Notobryon wardi

Hoplodoris nodulosa - A very pale form

Atys semistriatus

Bulla vernicosa

Lomanotus sp. 3

Lomanotus sp. 2

Phyllodesmium sp. 4

Facelina sp. 8

Unidentia angelvaldesi

Sakuraeolis nungunoides

Analogium amakusanum

Favorinus sp. 1

Philinopsis pilsbryi

Pleurobranchus peronii

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 17-10-2014

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

Julie, Terry, and David on this single shore entry dive of 118 minutes in depths to 6.4m. 8m viz and 23C water temp.

An almost cloudless sky and reasonable water clarity gave us heaps of light on the substrate during this mid-afternoon dive. A number of species were found that are new to our list.

The Godiva is obviously a juvenile but bears many similarities to Godiva quadricolor. The exception is smooth rhinophores rather than the annulated ones we have always found on these specimens previously. This could just be an undeveloped juvenile feature.

Two species of Aplysiidae were found in the weed. Our best investigations at this point lead us to believe that one (10mm) is a species of Petalifera whilst the other (5mm) is a species of Phyllaplysia. An internal shell is visible in the later but being a juvenile this may not be of significance. In both cases we have opted for the safer choice and designated each as an sp. as the features do not seem to point to any particular species. (Additional pictures of these will be available to review when the website is updated next week.) The Aplysiidae are in dire need of a review with many authors giving conflicting views upon what belongs in each genus. To quote Rudman (Sea Slug Forum) on this: "How many species and genera there are has been the subject of a lengthy, and uninformative debate in the scientific literature."

An undescribed species of Favorinus was also found, being most unusual in the colour within the skin of its body and tail leading us to nickname it the "Glitter Critter".

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Analogium amakusanum 1
Chelidonura fulvipunctata 1
Cratena lineata 1
Elysia sp. 11 1
Favorinus sp. 3 1 (New species)
Flabellina rubrolineata 5
Godiva quadricolor 1 (appears to be a juvenile)
Goniobranchus daphne 13
Goniobranchus decorus 1
Goniodoridella sp.1 1
Goniodoridella sp. 3 1
Hypselodoris obscura 5
Petalifera sp. 1 1 (New species)
Phyllaplysia sp. 1 1 (New species)
Phyllodesmium opalescens 3
Pteraeolidia ianthina 14
Rostanga sp. 1 1
Trinchesia ornata 1 (Best guess)
Trinchesia sp. 23 1
Trinchesia yamasui 1
*Unidentia angelvaldesi 27

Substrate - light & bright

Analogium amakusanum

Goniobranchus decorus

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniobranchus decorus - mating pair

Trinchesia yamasui - feeding on the hydroids

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Goniobranchus decorus

Goniodoridella sp.1

Trinchesia ornata - best guess

Chelidonura fulvipunctata

Cratena lineata

Goniodoridella sp. 3

Petalifera sp. 1 - new species (10mm)

Phyllaplysia sp. 1 - new species (5mm)

Unidentia angelvaldesi - top of the count

Rostanga sp. 1

Rostanga sp. 1 - note bite mark 

out of mantle by predator

Trinchesia sp. 23

Phyllodesmium opalescens

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Godiva quadricolor - juvenile 

with smooth rhinophores

Godiva quadricolor

Favorinus sp. 3 - new species

Favorinus sp. 3 - glittery multi-coloured 

specs in the skin

Elysia sp. 11- rhinophores rock 

back and forth as it moves