Species List Shellacey Reef 10-15m viz

23 Species found

Hypselodoris jacksoni
Hypselodoris whitei
Flabellina bicolor
Glossodoris rubroannulata
Aegires citrinus
Pectenodoris trilineata
Hypselodoris obscura
Chromodoris elisabethina eating (center photo)
Trinchesia ornata
Hexabranchus sanguineus
Glossodoris atromarginata
Trinchesia acinosa (bottom photo)
Phyllidia varicosa
Phyllidiella lizae
Chelidonura inornata
Chromodoris lochi
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Thuridilla splendens
Bornella anguilla
Tritoniopsis alba
Hypselodoris maculosa
Chromodoris splendida
Chromodoris kuiteri
*Bonus photo (top photo) What is it??

What Branch is it?

How to tell if it is a Janolus.

Our species list now contains two Janolus.

With a profusion of cerata on their dorsum Janolus could easily be mistaken for an aeolid, but in belonging to the Zephyrinidae family the Janolus are armininans not aeolids. Although having an aeolid-like form the most readily observable feature of distinction is that in the Janolus the cerata continue uninterrupted around the anterior margin of the head, a feature no aeolid possesses (refer pic above, from The Collection). A further helpful attribute of distinction is the location of the anal papilla. In Janolus it is located on the dorsal midline posteriorly (see Erik Schlogl's message at www.seaslugforum.net/message/19798 ), whereas in the aeolids it opens to the right anterior quarter usually on the side. Whilst the rhinophores are non-retractile in both the Janolus and the aeolids, the Janolus possess a distinctive ridge between the rhinophores at their bases. This longitudinal ridge is called a caruncle and its purpose is unknown, although some have variously suggested it performs a sensory or defensive purpose.

Costasiella kuroshimae

Costasiella kuroshimae Ichikawa, 1993 has been found by us at two sites now, off Shelly's Beach Caloundra and at Flinders Reef off Cape Moreton. The specimens from Flinders Reef present with a significant and distinctive white spot on the anterior face of all the cerata, towards the tip but below the orange band (Bottom photo). The Shelly's Beach specimens, on the other hand, do not seem to possess this spot, at least not of a noteworthy size (Top photo). We will need to find more examples at different sites to draw any conclusions about this as it is considered a highly variable species in colour.