Species List: 13-09-2018, Coles Hole, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld

43 species sighted at Coles Hole, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 13-09-2018.

Julie, Terry, David and Gary on this excursion consisting of 1 x 66 minute and 1 x 65 minute dives in water depths up to 20.0 m, up to 20 m viz, 20 C water temp.

With the water conditions continuing to be very good we headed out to Coles Hole and deeper water. Our latest addition to the species list was Phanerophthalmus sp. 1. This species was easy to see because of its purple colouration. Doriprismatica atromarginata continues to be the most common with Chromodoris elisabethina and Hypselodoris jacksoni right behind. Another great find was Chromodoris burni with its bright orange gills and rhinophores. A very nice dive with lots to see.

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

Ardeadoris rubroannulata 1/-
Berthella martensi 1/-
Bornella anguilla 1/2
Bulbaeolidia alba 2/-
Ceratosoma tenue -/1
Ceratosoma trilobatum 1/-
Chromodoris burni 1/-
Chromodoris elisabethina 6/6
Chromodoris kuiteri 3/1
Chromodoris striatella -/2
Chromodoris strigata -/1
Cratena lineata 1/-
Cratena simba 2/-
Dermatobranchus oculus -/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 12/8
Elysia sp. 6 1/-
Flabellina rubrolineata 3/-
Glossodoris rufomarginata 1/-
Goniobranchus albonares -/2
Goniobranchus decorus -/1
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 3/1
Goniobranchus tinctorius -/1
Hypselodoris jacksoni 9/3
Hypselodoris obscura 3/2
Hypselodoris whitei 3/2
Hypselodoris zephyra 1/-
Jorunna sp. 3 1/-
Mariaglaja inornata -/1
Mexichromis trilineata 1/1
Phanerophthalmus sp. 1 -/1 NEW SPECIES
Phyllidia ocellata -/1
Phyllidia varicosa 1/-
Phyllidiella lizae 3/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/4
Phyllodesmium macphersonae 1/-
Sagaminopteron psychedelicum -/1
Tambja tenuilineata 2/1
Tenellia sp. 33 1/2
Thuridilla splendens 1/4
Tritoniopsis elegans -/5
Tyrannodoris luteolineata -/1
Verconia norba 1/-

Preparing to do battle

Terry looking...

Phyllidiella pustulosa 

Phanerophthalmus sp. 1  NEW SPECIES

Flabellina rubrolineata

Ardeadoris rubroannulata

Cratena simba

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Hypselodoris jacksoni mating pair

Verconia norba

Chromodoris kuiteri

Goniobranchus geometricus

Phyllodesmium macphersonae

Tambja tenuilineata

Hypselodoris obscura

Thuridilla splendens

Coles Hole bridge

Berthella martensi

 Surface conditions

Tyrannodoris luteolineata

Hypselodoris whitei mating pair

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Mexichromis trilineata

Chromodoris elisabethina

Ceratosoma tenue

Chromodoris burni

Jorunna sp. 3

Chromodoris strigata

Tambja tenuilineata

Sagaminopteron psychedelicum

Goniobranchus albonares

Substrate

Hypselodoris jacksoni mating pair

Tambja tenuilineata

Bulbaeolidia alba

Mexichromis trilineata 

Goniobranchus albonares

Tritoniopsis elegans

Chromodoris striatella

Goniobranchus tinctorius

Species List: 09-09-2018, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

18 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 09-09-2018.

A single shore entry dive by Julie, Terry and David of 126 minutes. Maximum depth 5.4 m, 20 C water temperature and 5 m viz.

The River beckoned once again, enticing us below her busy Sunday morning surface with the promise of documenting both common and uncommon finds through our lenses. The incoming tide soon moderated, furnishing just sufficient water movement to carry away any offending stirred-up silt, providing excellent conditions for the portrait taking of our favourite sea life. The rocking rhinophores of Bulbaeolidia alba were sighted frequently but not as often as the white specks in the silt that represented Goniodoridella sp.1. The red-speckled plump white form of Goniobranchus daphne challenged for the title of most abundant but fell just short of the line. Sixty percent of species-type recorded were aeolids. Finds worth special mention include Philinopsis speciosa, a burrowing head-shield slug, Hypselodoris kanga, that rarer almost facsimile of Hypselodoris obscura and Facelina sp. 8 a species that we are not entirely sure of its generic placement in the Facelinidae. The especially cryptic Elysia sp. 11 betrayed its presence in the silt-covered substrate with the characteristic head-rocking motion it shares with the aforementioned Bulbaeolidia alba. The river bed profiling works have caused significant changes to the topography of sections of the submerged portion of the southern river bank. Some sections of growth covered rock are now completely buried under sand. We emerged, not only satisfied with our finds, but also with our efforts at recording them.

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Bulbaeolidia alba -7
Cratena lineata -7
Cratena simba -2
Elysia sp. 11 -1
Facelina sp. 8 -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -8
Goniobranchus daphne -18
Goniodoridella savignyi -6
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -22
Hypselodoris kanga -1
Hypselodoris obscura -6
Philinopsis speciosa -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -5
Tenellia sp. 23 -1
Tenellia sp. 24 -2
Tenellia sp. 44 -1
Unidentia sp. 1 -3
Unidentia sp. 2 -1

Ready to descend

Unidentia sp. 1

Goniobranchus daphne

Hypselodoris kanga

Pteraeolidia semperi - large, mating pair

Facelina sp. 8

Unidentia sp. 2

Cratena simba

Cratena lineata

Bulbaeolidia alba

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Hypselodoris obscura - gill circle, open 

posteriorly, accommodating anal papilla

Flabellina rubrolineata

Philinopsis speciosa

Tenellia sp. 24

Elysia sp. 11

Tenellia sp. 23

Species List: 09-09-2018, Coles Hole, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld

19 species sighted at Coles Hole, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 09-09-2018.

Gary with Sunreef Nudibranch Day on this excursion consisting of 1 x 53 minute and 1 x 49 minute dives in water depths up to 20.0 m, up to 20 m viz, 20 C water temp.

Today was Nudibranch Day with Sunreef Scuba Diving. I was a little concerned about the wind and swell but when we got to the bottom it was a slice of heaven! Great viz and very little surge. Finding Miromelo undatus was a real treat after not seeing it for quite a while.

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

Aegires flores 1/-
Cadlinella ornatissima 1/-
Chromodoris elisabethina 5/2
Cratena lineata 3/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/1
Flabellina rubrolineata -/1
Glossodoris rufomarginata -/1
Glossodoris vespa -/1
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 4/1
Hypselodoris whitei -/3
Micromelo undatus -/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
Tambja tenuilineata 1/-
Tenellia sp. 33 -/3
Thuridilla carlsoni -/1
Tritoniopsis elegans 1/-
Verconia sp. 2 -/1

Getting ready

Surface conditions

Substrate

Goniobranchus geometricus

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Chromodoris elisabethina

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Aegires flores

Tambja tenuilineata

Tritoniopsis elegans

Cratena lineata

Glossodoris vespa

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Tenellia sp. 33

Flabellina rubrolineata

Hypselodoris whitei mating pair

Phyllidiella lizae

Chromodoris elisabethina

Micromelo undatus

Glossodoris rufomarginata