43 species sighted at Crete, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 22-07-2016
Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 2 x 77 minute dives in water depths from 16 m to 20 m. 15 m viz, 20 C water temp and no surge.
We were treated to excellent surface conditions and likewise sub-surface. The first dive was a little way to the north of the mark. The terrain here presented as a number of low ridges rising up 1 to 2 m out of the sand. The second dive, back on the site proper, had steeper sides rising to a plateau at 16 m.
A fabulous diversity of sea slugs was encountered on both dives. Eubranchus sp. 3 is a not-so -common species. Goniobranchus coi is not only scarce but has such subtle pastel colouration to delight any photographer. We also added a new species to our list with our first sighting of Discodoris boholiensis that was not recognized until we reviewed our images post dive. The way it sat in the crevice with its mantle edges folded up originally had us thinking it was a flatworm.
The deeper water than usual limited our bottom times. Who knows how many more we might have sighted with another 20 minutes searching on each dive.
Number of each species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count
Aegires flores -/1
Aegires gardineri -/1
Ardeadoris rubroannulata -/1
*Ardeadoris sp. 2 2/6
Bornella anguilla 1/1
Bulbaeolidia alba 1/1
Cadlinella ornatissima 1/1
Chelidonura inornata 1/-
Dermatobranchus oculus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 4/2
Dermatobranchus rodmani 1\-
Dermatobranchus sp. 8 1/-
Discodoris boholiensis 1/- (New Species)
Doriprismatica atromarginata -/5
Eubranchus sp. 3 -/1
Favorinus sp. 1 1/3
Flabellina bicolor -/1
Flabellina exoptata -/1
Flabellina rubrolineata 2/-
Glossodoris vespa -/5
Goniobranchus coi -/1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi 1/-
Goniobranchus decorus -/1
Goniobranchus kuniei -/1
Goniobranchus reticulatus -/2
Goniobranchus splendidus 3/2
Goniobranchus verrieri 1/-
Goniodoridella savignyi 1/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus 2/2
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/1
Hypselodoris obscura 2/-
Hypselodoris tryoni -/1
Miamira sinuata 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 2/1
Phyllidiella lizae 1/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa -/1
Pleurobranchus peronii -/1
Pteraeolidia semperi 2/1
Roboastra luteolineata 1/-
*Sagaminopteron ornatum 1/7
Tritoniopsis alba 3/1
Verconia alboannulata 1/-
Verconia sp. 2 1/-
Roboastra luteolineata
Flabellina rubrolineata
Goniobranchus verrieri
Dermatobranchus rodmani
Chelidonura inornata
Flabellina bicolor
Pleurobranchus peronii
Excellent surface conditions
Bulbaeolidia alba
Phyllidiella lizae
Dermatobranchus oculus
Dermatobranchus ornatus - mating pair
Discodoris boholiensis - New species
Miamira sinuata
Goniobranchus collingwoodi
Phyllidia ocellata
Favorinus sp. 1
Aegires gardineri
Hypselodoris tryoni
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Eubranchus sp. 3
Goniobranchus reticulatus
Ardeadoris rubroannulata
Goniobranchus decorus
A team member searching the substrate
Another team member
Pteraeolidia semperi
Goniobranchus splendidus
Goniodoridella savignyi
Bornella anguilla
Verconia sp. 2 -foreground
Verconia alboannulata - behind
Cadlinella ornatissima
Tritoniopsis alba
Glossodoris vespa
Ardeadoris sp. 2
Hexabranchus sanguineus - juvenile
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Doriprismatica atromarginata
Aegires flores
Goniobranchus coi
Goniobranchus kuniei
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Flabellina exoptata
Eubranchus sp. 3 - taxonomic image
