Nudibranch Central

Friday, April 14, 2017

Species List: 14-04-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

9 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 14-04-2017

Gary, Elisha and Elliot on this single shore entry dive of 138 minutes. Maximum depth 5.9 m, 23 C water temperature and up to 3 m viz.

After 17 days of storms, rain and wind the river finally looked good enough to dive. I expected not to see any nudibranchs due to the fresh water flush and chocolate water. To my surprize the river is back to normal!

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus shell -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -6
Flabellina sp. 4 -1
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -2
Goniodoridella savignyi -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3
Hypselodoris obscura -14
* Pteraeolidia semperi -39
Tenellia sibogae -12

Site entry and beautiful weather

Elisha and Elliot READY!

Atys semistriatus shell

Flabellina sp. 4

The substrate

Tenellia sibogae

2 Tenellia sibogae on food source

Pteraeolidia semperi

Hypselodoris obscura

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Flabellina rubrolineata

2 mm Goniodoridella savignyi

Hypselodoris obscura mating pair

Tenellia sibogae

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Substrate feature

Tenellia sibogae

Monday, April 3, 2017

Species List: 26-03-2017, Terry's Delight, Arkwright Shoals, south of Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

29 species sighted at Terry's Delight, Arkwright Shoals, south of Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 26-03-2017.

Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 79 minute and 1 x 76 minute dives in water depths from 13 m to 17 m. 6 m viz, 27 C water temp and considerable surge.

The weather forecast proved accurate in all respects apart from the predicted swell the size of which caught us by surprise making photography quite difficult. As previously experienced the swell has a definite effect upon the species count by way of both our ability to find slugs and the slugs own penchant for finding the nearest crevice in which to escape the constant to and fro. (We were seriously considering renaming this site "To & Fro".) However all was not lost as we found a specimen of a rarely seen slug - Miamira moloch and what a beauty it is too. We have found this species in several forms of external appearance over the years and the existence of these variations begs the question - is there more than one species amongst them all?

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

Aegires citrinus 3/-
Aegires flores 3/2
Ardeadoris sp. 2 -/2
Bornella anguilla 1/-
Chromodoris annae -/1 (Most likely)
Chromodoris elisabethina 2/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/2
Dermatobranchus tuberculatus -/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 3/12
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus geometricus -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 3/2
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/1
Hypselodoris godeffroyana 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 3/2
Hypselodoris obscura 1/-
Hypselodoris tryoni -/1
Miamira magnifica 1/-
Miamira moloch 1/-
Nembrotha lineolata -/2
Phyllidia ocellata 2/1
Phyllidia picta 1/-
Phyllidiella lizae 1/-
Phyllidiella pustulosa -/1
Phyllodesmium colemani 1/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 4/-
Thuridilla splendens -/2
Tritoniopsis elegans 3/3
Tylodina corticalis 2/-