Nudibranch Central

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Species List: 22-01-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

12 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 22-01-2017.

Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this single shore entry dive, of 109 minutes. Maximum depth 5.5 m, 26 C water temperature and up to 3 m viz.

Not much tidal range at the moment and the slugs are scarce as well. Aeolids and pleurobranchs seem to have gone missing.

Number of each species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Dermatobranchus funiculus -1
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 -1
Goniobranchus daphne -5
Goniobranchus decorus -3
Goniobranchus splendidus -2
Goniobranchus verrieri -6
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -6
Hypselodoris obscura -6
Liloa sp. 2 -1 Shell
Plakobranchus sp. 1 -2
* Pteraeolidia semperi -7
Tenellia sp. 23 -1

La Balsa Park

Plakobranchus sp. 1 - a pair.

Plakobranchus sp. 1

Goniobranchus verrieri

Goniobranchus daphne

Substrate

Hypselodoris obscura

Dermatobranchus funiculus

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniobranchus decorus

Goniobranchus splendidus

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Dermatobranchus sp. 7

Liloa sp. 2 - shell

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Species List: 20-01-2017, Where's Dewley, Arkwright Shoals, off Yaroomba, Sunshine Coast Qld

27 species sighted at Where's Dewley, Arkwright Shoals, off Yaroomba, Sunshine Coast Qld, 20-01-2017.

Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 93 minute and 1 x 81 minute dives in water depths from 9 m to 14 m. 10 m viz, 26 C water temp and surge.

Species count was a little down due no doubt to the surge experienced on this shallower portion of the shoals. This is only our second visit to this site, the first being back in November 2013. It is slightly to the north of Terry's Delight and differs in substrate topography with large jumbled boulders falling away into sand. Large numbers of Tylodina corticalis were present. Of particular interest were the two specimens of Goniobranchus geometricus with a startling difference in the notum appearance.

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

Bornella anguilla 1/2
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 22/18
Elysia maoria 3/-
Eubranchus sp. 3 -/1
Glossodoris vespa 2/1
Goniobranchus geometricus -/2
Goniobranchus splendidus -/1
Halgerda aurantiomaculata 1/-
Hexabranchus sanguineus 2/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 3/9
Hypselodoris maculosa 1/-
Hypselodoris obscura 2/-
Jorunna sp.3 1/-
Phyllidia elegans 1/-
Phyllidia picta 1/-
Phyllidia varicosa 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae 1/-
Phyllidiella pustulosa 3/2
Pleurolidia juliae -/1
Roboastra luteolineata -/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum 2/4
Tenellia sibogae -/1
Tenellia sp. 33 2/-
Thuridilla carlsoni 1/-
Thuridilla splendens 3/2
Tritoniopsis elegans 2/2
Tylodina corticalis 6/11

Halgerda aurantiomaculata

Hypselodoris obscura

Elysia maoria

Tylodina corticalis - mating position, head to head

Tritoniopsis elegans

Surface conditions - Coolum burning
in the background

Hypselodoris jacksoni - mating pair

Eubranchus sp. 3

Bornella anguilla

Goniobranchus geometricus - notum variations

Glossodoris vespa

Hexabranchus sanguineus

Jorunna sp.3

Phyllidiella lizae

Tenellia sibogae

Thuridilla splendens

Phyllidia elegans

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Hypselodoris maculosa

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Pleurolidia juliae

Phyllidia varicosa

Comparing notes during surface interval

Substrate

Thuridilla carlsoni

Tenellia sp. 33

Goniobranchus splendidus

Roboastra luteolineata

Phyllidia picta

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Species List: 18-01-2017, Nudi-Ledge Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast Qld

43 Species sighted at Nudi-Ledge Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast Qld, 18-01-2017

Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 92 minute and 1 x 80 minute dives in water depths from 14 m to 18 m. 6 m viz, 25 C water temp and no surge.

It has been more than 3 months since we have dived the Currimundi region of our survey area. Surface conditions were excellent and the vis below workable with no surge. Although we only worked about 30 metres either side of the anchor along the edge of the ledge the species sighted and their populations were impressive.

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

Aegires flores 1/1
Ardeadoris averni 1/-
Bornella anguilla 3/1
Cadlinella ornatissima 1/-
Ceratosoma tenue -/1
Chromodoris elisabethina -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 10/-
Colpodaspis thompsoni 1/-
Cratena lineata -/1
Dermatobranchus oculus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 2/2
Dermatobranchus rodmani 1/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 1/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 8 1/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 16/18
Elysia maoria -/2
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/-
Glossodoris vespa 4/7
Goniobranchus splendidus 2/6
Goniodoridella savignyi 1/-
Halgerda aurantiomaculata -/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus 3/2
Hypselodoris apolegma -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 16/4
Hypselodoris maritima 1/-
Jorunna sp. 3 1/-
Mexichromis pusilla 1/-
Phyllidia exquisita 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 2/5
Phyllidia picta -/1
Phyllidia varicosa 2/3
Phyllidiella lizae 3/6
Phyllidiella pustulosa 3/3
Phyllidiopsis burni 1/1
Pleurolidia juliae 1/-
Pteraeolidia semperi 4/3
Roboastra luteolineata 3/2
Sagaminopteron ornatum 5/1
Tornatina sp. 1 -/1
Tritoniopsis elegans 5/2
Tylodina corticalis 1/3
Verconia laboutei 1/-
Verconia norba -/1