Nudibranch Central

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Species List: 03-09-2016, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

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

Julie, Terry, Gary & David on this single shore entry dive of 105 minutes. Maximum depth 5.9 m, 21 C water temperature and 5 m viz.

A good haul for the river with 26 species of which exactly half are aeolids. Trinchesia sp. 17 is an uncommon species that seems to turn up every couple of years - first time in the river though. We also recorded a juvenile dorid that we are unable to match at this stage.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Bulbaeolidia alba -8
Cratena lineata -2
Cratena simba -2
Facelina bourailli -3
Flabellina angelvaldesi -36
Flabellina rubrolineata -2
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -2
Goniobranchus daphne -8
Goniobranchus decorus -2
Goniobranchus reticulatus -1
Goniobranchus splendidus -2
Goniodoridella savignyi -4
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -92
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -5
Phyllodesmium opalescens -4
Plakobranchus sp. 1 -1
Pleurobranchus peronii -2
Pleurobranchus weberi -2
Pteraeolidia semperi -12
Trinchesia sibogae -1
Trinchesia sp. 17 -1
Trinchesia sp. 23 -6
Trinchesia sp. 24 -1
Trinchesia yamasui -1
Unidentified dorid -1 (New species?)

Trinchesia sp. 24

Trinchesia yamasui

Plakobranchus sp. 1

Bulbaeolidia alba

Facelina bourailli

Rocky substrate

Goniobranchus decorus

The site

Goniobranchus reticulatus

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Goniobranchus decorus - disrupted
mantle lines

Flabellina angelvaldesi

Goniodoridella savignyi

Flabellina rubrolineata

Pleurobranchus weberi - mating pair
(head to head)

Goniobranchus daphne

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Goniobranchus splendidus

Channel beacon pole

Pleurobranchus peronii - unusual form

Hypselodoris obscura

Cratena lineata

Phyllodesmium opalescens

Trinchesia sibogae

Trinchesia sp. 17

Trinchesia sp. 23

Unidentified juvenile dorid

Friday, September 2, 2016

Species List: 01-09-2016, Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

39 species sighted at Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 01-09-2016

Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 90 minute and 1 x 81 minute dives in water depths from 14 m to 17 m. 15 m viz, 20 C water temp and no surge.

With this visit to Nudi Ledge we have completed the recent round of diving the "Nudi" sites. A great range of species were out feeding including some that we only rarely sight. We have decided to separate what until now we have been calling a form of Gonibranchus reticulatus. At this stage we base the distinction, apart from a difference in the mantle surface appearance, mainly upon the particular type of sponge that we always seem to find it feeding upon but which other relatives do not. It will be called Goniobranchus sp. 4 in our list.

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

Ardeadoris averni 1/-
Ardeadoris angustolutea -/1
Ardeadoris sp. 2 7/8
Berthella martensi 1/-
Bornella anguilla 5/1
Bulbaeolidia alba 1/-
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/-
Chromodoris lochi 2/-
Chromodoris sp. 3 5/1
Dermatobranchus oculus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus -/3
Diversidoris flava -/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 59/22
Eubranchus sp. 3 1/-
Glossodoris vespa 2/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 4/13
Goniobranchus sp. 4 -/1 (New species)
Hexabranchus sanguineus -/4
Hypselodoris bullockii 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 29/7
Hypselodoris obscura 3/1
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 2/-
Hypselodoris sp. 3 1/-
Miamira sinuata 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae -2/3
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/1
Phyllidiopsis burni 1/-
Phyllodesmium colemani -/1
Pleurolidia juliae 6/2
Pteraeolidia semperi 1/-
Roboastra luteolineata -/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum 7/9
Tambja tenuilineata 2/6
Thuridilla carlsoni 1/-
Tritoniopsis alba -/1
Verconia romeri 1/-
Verconia simplex 2/-
Verconia sp. 2 -/1