Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 16-07-2015

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

Julie and David on this single shore entry dive of 95 minutes, with Terry offering surface support. Maximum depth 6 m, 17 C water temperature and 5m viz.

This dive was commenced at the most eastern end of La Balsa Park at the last set of stairs towards the river mouth. Our finds noted here are double the number of species found over a month ago so things are undoubtedly on the improve following the exterminating flush-out caused by Cyclone Marcia. Two things of note are worth mentioning: The aeolid Unidentia angelvaldesi is always in very low numbers or missing entirely along this particular stretch and the Gymnodoris sighted, although not for the first time, is not Gymnodoris alba. We have it mixed up with that species on this web site. It is a different species and we believe it is time to separate it and have designated it here as Gymnodoris sp. 10 - a new species. Still waiting on the long anticipated review of the gymnodorids.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena simba -2
Dendrodoris denisoni -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -1
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -11
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -2 (New Species)
Phidiana bourailli -2

Cratena simba

Substrate

Dendrodoris denisoni

Flabellina rubrolineata

Gymnodoris sp. 10 - new species

Phidiana bourailli

Lots of nudibranch spawn on some 

of the hydroids

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Species List: Lake Kawana, Sunshine Coast, 14-07-2015

1 species sighted in Lake Kawana.

Just Julie on this 10min walk to the lake opposite the office; scarf, jacket and furry boots in place. Water depth 0.20m, water temp – cold, visibility 1m (in the water), no surge.

As always determined to hunt down the elusive critters, I once again scoured the waters of the lake in the hope that it would eventually provide access to the jewels that live within. Today I was not disappointed! Whilst studying some algae in passing, I noticed a small black leaf shape that appeared to moving across the substrate. Closer inspection revealed it was indeed a target species. After some quick searching for some refuse in which to collect the critter, the jacket and scarf came off, the sleeves pulled up and spread eagle on the footpath I managed to collect the specimen for identification purposes.

Number of species sighted:

Elysia bangtawaensis 1

Woo Hoo!!

 Elysia bangtawaensis

 

 

Elysia bangtawaensis 

Species List: Bornella Reef, SE corner Old Woman Island, Sunshine Coast, 11-07-2015

22 species sighted at Bornella Reef, SE corner Old Woman Island, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 83 minute and 1 x 85 minute dives in water depths of 11 m to 14 m. 6 m viz, 18 C water temp and some surge. We all agreed that the drysuit is the best invention ever.

Once more the island beckoned. With the NW wind forecast to strengthen we opted to dive on the SE corner at a site we call Bornella Reef. Whilst there were hydroids present alas the Bornella specimens that gave their name to the site were not. Two specimens of Tambja victoriae were sighted one of which at 60 mm was amongst the largest we have observed in these waters. Favorinus sp. 1 popped up again. It has been placed in this genus for the sole reason that the rhinophores have cup-shaped annulations but the cerata do not seem typical.

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

Bulbaeolidia alba 1/-
Cadlinella ornatissima -/1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Favorinus sp. 1 1/-
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/1
Flabellina sp. 1 1/2
Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus -/1
Goniobranchus daphne 1/-
* Goniobranchus splendidus 7/9
Goniodoridella savignyi -/2
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/1
Hypselodoris obscura -/2
Jorunna sp. 3 1/-
Phyllidia exquisita -/1
Phyllidia ocellata 1/-
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/-
* Pteraeolidia ianthina 14/2
Roboastra luteolineata -/1
Tambja victoriae  -/2
Thuridilla splendens 1/2
Trinchesia ornata -/1
Trinchesia sibogae 1/-

Surface conditions at the island

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Phyllidia exquisita - or is it?

Yes! Note the gold edge to the mantle margin

Tambja victoriae

Healthy substrate

Goniobranchus splendidus - hard to believe 

they could match the Pteraeolidia ianthina in numbers

Hypselodoris obscura

Cadlinella ornatissima

Favorinus sp. 1

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Goniobranchus daphne

Pteraeolidia ianthina - numbers were 

higher on the one side of of the reef finger

Trinchesia ornata

Roboastra luteolineata

Goniodoridella savignyi

Thuridilla splendens

Flabellina sp. 1

Species List: Dropoff, Currimundi Reef, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, 02-07-2015

26 species sighted at Dropoff, Currimundi Reef, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 70 minute and 1 x 73 minute dives in water depths of 14 m to 20 m. 12 m viz, 20 C water temp and no surge.

As better conditions return to the Sunshine Coast so we are seeing an increase in the
diversity and populations of the sea slugs. Dropoff is a site we have only dived twice before. There is a large "bluff" at the north-west corner of the plateau in this section of reef. We don't think we were right on the mark this time but the various terraces still held plenty of interesting growth and critters. They seemed to improve in variety and coverage the shallower we went which also meant we were moving away from the sandy substrate along the edge at the deepest part. The proximity of the sand there would affect sessile growth through smothering and abrasion in times of surge.

Take a moment to compare the differences between two specimens of Flabellina rubrolineata in the images below. Also compare the two different juvenile specimens of Hypselodoris jacksoni. Although both are the same size, one (in situ image) has all the features that allow us to recognise it as such whereas the other (microscope image) lacks the orange mantle margin, has a plain tail and exhibits a blue crescent anteriorly that has never been present in any specimens we have observed before, either juvenile or adult.

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

Ardeadoris aff. averni -/3
Cadlinella ornatissima 1/-
Chromodoris striatella 1/-
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/1
Dermatobranchus ornatus -/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 1/-
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/1
Glossodoris vespa -/1
Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus -/1
Goniobranchus daphne 2/1
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/3
Goniobranchus splendidus 3/3
Goniodoridella savignyi 2/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/4
Hypselodoris obscura 1/2
Hypselodoris sagamiensis -/1
Jorunna sp. 3 -/1
Noumea norba -/1
Phyllidia ocellata 2/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/2
* Pteraeolidia ianthina 6/6
Sagaminopteron ornatum -/3
Tritoniopsis alba -/1
Tylodina corticalis -/1

Phyllidia ocellata

Cadlinella ornatissima

Goniobranchus splendidus

Substrate - rich and diverse

Goniobranchus geometricus - anterior 

mantle flapping

Hexabranchus sanguineus - juvenile

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Pteraeolidia ianthina - most numerous

Ardeadoris aff. averni - a pair

Hypselodoris obscura

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Goniodoridella savignyi

Tylodina corticalis

Hypselodoris jacksoni - juvenile - microscope

Hypselodoris jacksoni - juvenile - in situ

Flabellina rubrolineata - compare with below

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus

Hypselodoris sagamiensis

Noumea norba

Jorunna sp. 3

Tritoniopsis alba