Thursday, June 19, 2014

Species List: Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, 16-06-2014

32 species sighted at Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast.

Terry and David were joined by Sue Churchill & Rogan Draper, the ovulid experts, for two dives of 94 minutes and 89 minutes respectively in depths of 15m to 18m. Viz was good at 12m but the water temp of 21C minimum saw our guests succumb to the cold and undertake shorter dives being more conditioned to tropical waters and also not having the benefit of our drysuits. They expressed amazement at the diversity to be found in our little part of the world and were successful in locating several species of Ovulidae (Allied or False Cowries - Ovulids) and identifying their soft coral hosts.

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

Aegires citrinus 1/-
Ardeadoris aff. averni -/1
Ardeadoris rubroannulata -/1
Bornella anguilla 5/7
Cadlinella ornatissima -/1
Chelidonura inornata 1/-
Chromodoris kuiteri 5/3
Chromodoris striatella 2/1
Cratena simba 1/-
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 23/11
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/-
Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus -/1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 4/2
Goniodoridella savignyi 1/-
Hexabranchus sanguineus -/2
Hypselodoris jacksoni 4/6
Hypselodoris obscura 7/3
Noumea simplex 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/6
Phyllidia picta 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae 5/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 6/6
Phyllodesmium magnum 1/-
Protaeolidiella juliae -/1
Pteraeolidia ianthina 4/3
Sagaminopteron ornatum 3/3
Thorunna daniellae 1/-
Tritoniopsis alba 1/2
Tylodina corticalis -/2

Surface conditions on entry

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Chromodoris kuiteri

Phyllidia picta

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Aegires citrinus

Phyllidiella lizae

Chelidonura inornata

Ardeadoris aff. averni

Cadlinella ornatissima

Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus

Substrate - plenty of fish-life too

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Goniodoridella savignyi

Noumea simplex

Thorunna daniellae

Flabellina rubrolineata

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Hexabranchus sanguineus - juvenile

Hexabranchus sanguineus - adult

One of three emperor shrimp 
(Periclimenes imperator) hosted 
by a Hexabranchus sanguineus

Phyllidia ocellata

Protaeolidiella juliae 

Ardeadoris rubroannulata