Nudibranch Central

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Species List: Hancock Shoals, north of Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 01-08-2015

30 species sighted at Hancock Shoals, opposite Mt Peregian, north of Coolum, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 95 minute and 1 x 73 minute dives in water depths of 10 m to 13 m. 10 m viz, 19 C water temp and constant but not heavy surge.

Ideal surface conditions provided the opportunity to head further up the coast to the Hancock Shoals. The shallower water here gave us longer bottom times but subjected us to a small but constant (read - annoying) surge. Sea slugs were plentiful and a number of not-so-common species were sighted such as Bornella stellifer, Eubranchus sp. 6, Thuridilla sp. 1 and Tritonia sp. 1 making the effort worthwhile. This is an interesting site with a number of shallower and undercut terraces and also a large number of loose, small rocks and coral plates, providing hiding places, that may be carefully turned to reveal all manner of reclusive creatures.

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

Aegires citrinus -/1
Ardeadoris aff. averni 1/1
Berthellina citrina 1/-
Bornella anguilla 2/1
Bornella stellifer -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri -/1
Chromodoris sp. 1 2/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 4/5
Eubranchus sp. 6 1/-
Glossodoris vespa 1/3
Goniobranchus conchyliatus 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 11/4
Gymnodoris alba 2/2
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/1
Hoplodoris nodulosa 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/2
Hypselodoris maritima 1/-
* Hypselodoris obscura 10/6
Hypselodoris whitei 1/-
Jorunna parva 1/-
Mexichromis trilineata 2/-
Phyllidia madangensis -/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum 4/3
Thuridilla sp. 1 1/-
Thuridilla splendens -/2
Trinchesia sibogae 2/-
Tritonia sp. 1 1/-
Tritoniopsis alba 1/1

Chromodoris sp. 1

Tritonia sp. 1

Hoplodoris nodulosa

Trinchesia sibogae

Hypselodoris whitei

Hypselodoris maritima

Tritoniopsis alba

Phyllidia madangensis

Substrate

Gymnodoris alba

Thuridilla sp. 1

Glossodoris vespa

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Hexabranchus sanguineus

Surface conditions

Jorunna parva

Bornella anguilla - feeding

Berthellina citrina

Goniobranchus conchyliatus

Eubranchus sp. 6

Ardeadoris aff. averni

Mexichromis trilineata

Goniobranchus splendidus

Bornella stellifer

Aegires citrinus

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Species List: Crete and Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 31-07-2015

34 species total, sighted at Crete and Nudi Ledge, both on Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 2 dives.
1st dive at Crete of 84 minutes in water depths of 17 to 19 m. 10 m viz, 19 C water temp, no surge.
2nd dive at Nudi Ledge of 87 minutes in water depths of 14 to 17 m. 10 m viz, 19 C water temp and a little surge.

As more settled conditions prevail our species count is on the upswing. Most of these are fairly commonly encountered except perhaps the large specimen of Aegires gardineri which we have not sighted for some time.

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

Aegires gardineri 1/-
Ardeadoris aff. averni 7/3
Cadlinella ornatissima -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri -/3
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/3
Dermatobranchus rodmani -/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/8
Flabellina exoptata 2/-
Flabellina rubrolineata 6/-
Glossodoris vespa 1/2
Goniobranchus albonares 1/-
Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 11/2
Goniodoridella savignyi 2/2
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 5/5
Hypselodoris maritima -/1
Hypselodoris obscura 2/3
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 1/-
Mexichromis festiva 1/-
Noumea norba 2/2
Noumea romeri -/1
Phyllidia ocellata 2/1
Phyllidia varicosa 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae 1/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 4/6
Pleurobranchus peronii -/1
Pteraeolidia semperi 2/1
* Sagaminopteron ornatum 20/15
Tambja tenuilineata 1/-
Trinchesia sibogae 3/-
Trinchesia sp. 3 -/1
Tylodina corticalis -/1