Species List: Kings Beach Boat Ramp, Caloundra, Sub-tidal, 24-11-2013

2 species found on an aborted shore dive at Kings Beach Boat Ramp, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast.
Terry, Julie & David attempted this shore dive. From the shore conditions did not appear too bad but the combination of surge and extremely low visibility due to the heavy load of Asparagopsis weed suspended in the water column (probably broken off during the previous night's storm) made one of us quite nauseous so we exited the water after just 14 minutes.
Max. depth: 3.3m, Viz: 1.0m (where the weed load was least), 26C water temp.

The identity of the Spurilla braziliana led us upon a merry chase for sometime. The markings upon the notum are solid instead of the usual spotted outline, the tips of the cerata are not as tightly curved, the tail is longer and free of cerata and the diverticula extensions into the cerata not as distinct. Previously referred to as Spurilla neapolitana in Australia. There is ongoing international debate about the correct name.

Doriprismatica atromarginata 1
Spurilla braziliana 1

The substrate with surging weed in the water column

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Spurilla braziliana

Spurilla braziliana

Spurilla braziliana

Species List: Terry's Delight, Coolum, 15-11-2013

38 species found at Terry's Delight, off Point Arkwright, Coolum, Sunshine Coast.
Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 2 x 75 minute dives in water depths of 14m to 17m. 5m viz, 22C water temp, and some surge.
Highlights included finding 3 x Marionia cyanobranchiata with egg coil under an old coral plate and 5 x Pleurobranchus peronii beneath another, plus the 2 x Roboastra luteolineata attempting to mate. The very cryptic Jorunna sp. 4 of course is always a joy to locate.

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

Aegires citrinus -/1
Aegires flores 4/3
Ardeadoris aff. averni 1/5
Ardeadoris averni -/1
Bornella anguilla -/1
Bulbaeolidia alba 1/1
Bullina lineata 1/-
Chromodoris elisabethina -/2
Chromodoris splendida 2/-
Cratena lineata -/1
Dermatobranchus ornatus 2/7
*Doriprismatica atromarginata 3/10
Flabellina sp. 1 -/1
Glossodoris vespa 2/-
Goniobranchus daphne 1/-
Halgerda cf. willeyi 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/2
Hypselodoris maritima 2/-
Hypselodoris obscura 5/1
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 2/-
Jorunna sp. 3 1/-
Jorunna sp. 4 -/1
Marionia cyanobranchiata 3/-
Noumea simplex 1/-
Oxynoe viridis -/2
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidia varicosa -/2
Phyllidiella lizae 3/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 2/1
Phyllodesmium macphersonae -/1
Phyllodesmium magnum 2/-
Pleurobranchus peronii  5/-
Pteraeolidia ianthina -/1
Roboastra luteolineata 4/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 2/5
Thuridilla splendens 1/1
Tritoniopsis alba 1/2
*Tylodina corticalis 6/7

Tylodina corticalis

Thuridilla splendens

Substrate

Phyllodesmium magnum

Jorunna sp. 3

Hypselodoris sagamiensis

Goniobranchus daphne

Chromodoris splendida

Halgerda cf. willeyi

Bullina lineata

Surface conditions ...... from the surface

Dermatobranchus ornatus

Oxynoe viridis

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Tylodina corticalis x 3

Jorunna sp. 4

Chromodoris elisabethina

Hypselodoris sagamiensis

Noumea simplex

Pleurobranchus peronii x 5

Roboastra luteolineata - mating prelude

Marionia cyanobranchiata - egg coil

Marionia cyanobranchiata

Aegires flores

Phyllodesmium macphersonae

Dermatobranchus ornatus - head on

Ardeadoris aff. averni x 5

Aegires citrinus

Species List: Coral Boulders, Coolum, 14-11-2013

38 species found at Coral Boulders off Point Arkwright, Coolum, Sunshine Coast.
This is an old site recorded by Terry & Julie but not dived for some time.
Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 2 x 90 minute dives in water depths of 6m, on top of the shallow plateau, to 12m. Many boulders and crevices over the edge of the plateau.
5m viz, 22C water temp, some surge.

We need to confirm our name for the large reddish Aplysia that we have temporarily called Aplysia extraordinaria. Also new for us, a very small aeolid we are calling Eubranchus sp. 9.

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

Aplysia extraordinaria ? TBC 1/- (This would be a new species for us.)
Aplysia parvula 1/-
Ardeadoris aff. averni -/1
Bornella anguilla -/1
Bullina lineata 1/-
Chelidonura electra 1/2
Chelidonura inornata 6/3
Colpodaspis thompsoni -/1
Dendrodoris denisoni -/1
*Doriprismatica atromarginata 24/14
Eubranchus sp. 9 -/1 (This is also a new species for us)
Flabellina rubrolineata -/1
Flabellina sp. 1 1/-
Glossodoris vespa 1/-
Goniobranchus decorus -/1
Gymnodoris alba 1/1
Hallaxa iju 1/-
Hypselodoris maritima 2/1
Hypselodoris obscura 8/6
Hypselodoris tryoni 1/-
Mexichromis festiva 4/3
Noumea simplex -/1
Oxynoe viridis 2/1
Phyllidia elegans -/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/3
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
Phyllodesmium macphersonae 1/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 3/4
Tambja tenuilineata -/1
Thuridilla albopustulosa -/1
Thuridilla carlsoni 1/-
Thuridilla splendens 1/-
Trinchesia diversicolor 1/1
Trinchesia puellula 1/1
Trinchesia sp. 1 1/2
Trinchesia yamasui -/1
Tritoniopsis alba 1/4
Tylodina corticalis 4/3

Surface conditions

Bullina lineata

Hypselodoris maritima

Glossodoris vespa

Hypselodoris tryoni

Gymnodoris alba

Phyllidia elegans

Goniobranchus decorus

Tambja tenuilineata

Trinchesia sp. 1

Tylodina corticalis - A mating Pair

Aplysia extraordinaria

The substrate

Eubranchus sp. 9 - Appears to be feeding 

on hydroids growing on Caulerpa.

Chelidonura inornata

Hallaxa iju

Phyllodesmium macphersonae

Aplysia parvula

Dendrodoris denisoni 

Chelidonura electra

Colpodaspis thompsoni

Noumea simplex

Flabellina rubrolineata

Trinchesia puellula

Trinchesia puellula

Thuridilla albopustulosa 

Colpodaspis thompsoni

Colpodaspis thompsoni - ventral view

Trinchesia diversicolor - ventral view

Trinchesia diversicolor

Aplysia extraordinaria

Aplysia extraordinaria