Nudibranch Central

Monday, May 23, 2016

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 22-05-2016

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

Julie, Terry & David on this single shore entry dive of 140 minutes. Maximum depth 5.7 m, 22 C water temperature and 3 m viz.

Flabellina angelvaldesi are still present in plague proportions such that we stopped counting them at 150. A couple of infrequently sighted species were seen. A pair of Phyllodesmium opalescens were found under a rock. They looked a little different with some features of the similar looking and recently described (2014) Phyllodesmium undulatum however we do not think it is that species. Water temperature is now down to 22 C that for slow long dives is starting to become uncomfortable.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Bulbaeolidia alba -1
Carminodoris nodulosa -1
* Flabellina angelvaldesi -150+
Flabellina rubrolineata -1
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus daphne -9
Goniobranchus decorus -2
Goniobranchus splendidus -2
Goniodoridella savignyi -2
Goniodoridella sp.1 -18
Goniodoridella sp. 3 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -9
Jorunna parva -2
Phidiana bourailli -5
Phyllodesmium opalescens -2
Pleurobranchus weberi -5
Pteraeolidia semperi -20
Rostanga sp. 1 -1
Trinchesia sp. 23 -1
Verconia simplex -1

Jorunna parva

Flabellina angelvaldesi - colour form

with some cerata white

Flabellina angelvaldesi - most typical presentation

Hypselodoris obscura

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Goniobranchus splendidus

Goniodoridella sp.1

Phyllodesmium opalescens

Substrate

Goniodoridella savignyi

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniodoridella sp. 3 -Teeny-tiny sitting

on the tip of a glove finger

Rostanga sp. 1

Trinchesia sp. 23

Carminodoris nodulosa

Verconia simplex

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Bulbaeolidia alba

Goniobranchus decorus

Phidiana bourailli

Pleurobranchus weberi - mating pair

Pteraeolidia semperi - pale juvenile

Goniobranchus daphne

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Species List: Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 19-05-2016

37 species sighted at Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x afternoon dive of 84 minutes and 1 x night dive of 77 minutes in water depths from 15 m to 18 m. 12 m viz, 23 C water temp and no surge.

It has been quite some time since we last undertook a night dive on the offshore reefs of the Sunshine Coast. Terry floated the idea and we jumped at it. His suggestion that we try Nudi Ledge was an inspired choice. Conditions were absolutely perfect with calm seas, very little swell and a moonlit night. Currimundi Reef is certainly back to its best with the diversity of slugs we are sighting. The find of the excursion is no doubt the pair of extremely large Mariona rubra. When the focus is on searching for small slugs in the 5 - 20 mm range it comes as a complete surprise - no, astonishment, to realise that the piece of soft coral you think you are looking at is actually a living slug. It also takes a conscious effort to control the breathing rate as the recognition sinks in and the manoeuvring for photographing it takes place. This is a new species to add to our list. The other find of note is the large number of Atys semistriatus that had emerged from the crevices to feed after dark.

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

Aegires villosus -/1
Ardeadoris sp. 2 3/3
Atys semistriatus -/8
Bornella anguilla 1/2
Chelidonura inornata 6/2
Chromodoris elisabethina 3/2
Chromodoris kuiteri 2/2
Chromodoris striatella -/2
Dermatobranchus oculus 1/-
* Dermatobranchus ornatus 3/13
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 1/-
Dermatobranchus tuberculatus 1/-
Discodoris cebuensis 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/8
Elysia pusilla -/1
Goniobranchus geometricus 2/1
Goniobranchus reticulatus 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 1/3
Goniobranchus tinctorius 1/-
Glossodoris vespa 3/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus juvenile 1/-
Hypselodoris bullockii 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/3
Hypselodoris obscura 1/-
Marionia rubra 2/- New Species
Nembrotha purpureolineata 2/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/-
Phyllidia picta -/1
Phyllidia varicosa 2/-
Phyllidiella annulata -/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
Pteraeolidia semperi 4/2
Roboastra luteolineata -/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum -/2
Trinchesia diversicolor 1/-
Tritoniopsis alba 1/-