Species List: Nudi Retreat, Currimundi Reef, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, 19-08-2014

28 species sighted at Nudi Retreat, Currimundi Reef, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast.

Terry & David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 86 minute and 1 x 85 minute dives in water depths of 13m to 17m. 19C water temp, 8m viz and no surge.

Its been 8 weeks since we last ventured forth for some dives from Terry's boat. Our overseas trip to Timor Leste, unsuitable weather, river dives, family commitments and engine repairs all contributing to the hiatus. There was a strong wind warning current but with the wind coming out of the WSW and our choice of an inshore dive site conditions were quite suitable. The Caloundra Bar was so flat it was difficult to discern exactly where the channel lay. The species count was fair with the Philinopsis lineolata and the pair of bubble shells providing something different of interest and as it turns out the Atys is a new species to our list as Atys sp. 6.

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

Acteocina sp. 1 -/1
Aplysia parvula -/1
Ardeadoris aff. averni 1/1
Atys sp. 6 1/- (New species)
Bornella anguilla -/1
Cadlinella ornatissima -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri -/4
Chromodoris striatella 1/-
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 3/1
Dermatobranchus rodmani 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/3
Flabellina rubrolineata 3/1
Glossodoris vespa -/1
Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus -/1
Goniobranchus daphne -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 3/5
Goniobranchus tinctorius 2/-
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/2
* Hypselodoris obscura 3/6
Hypselodoris sagamiensis 3/3
Philinopsis lineolata 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 2/3
Phyllidiella lizae 1/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
* Pteraeolidia ianthina 6/3
Sagaminopteron ornatum 1/5
Tritoniopsis alba 1/2

The lush substrate

Hypselodoris sagamiensis

Dermatobranchus rodmani

Philinopsis lineolata

Hexabranchus sanguineus

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Ardeadoris aff. averni

Phyllidiella lizae

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Tritoniopsis alba

Bornella anguilla

Glossodoris vespa

Chromodoris kuiteri

Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus

Goniobranchus splendidus

Goniobranchus daphne

Phyllidia ocellata

Hypselodoris obscura

Hexabranchus sanguineus - showing the 

gills withdrawn into the separate pockets

Goniobranchus tinctorius

Chromodoris striatella

Atys sp. 6

Atys sp. 6

Flabellina rubrolineata

Dermatobranchus ornatus

Cadlinella ornatissima

Aplysia parvula

Acteocina sp. 1

Species List, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 10-08-2014

19 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry, and David on this single shore entry dive of 114 minutes in depths to 6.5m. 5m viz and 20C water temp.

We entered the river waters not long after sunrise and endured the constant whine of outboard engines as the boating fraternity all took advantage of the excellent weather conditions to motor down the river and head offshore. This dive has produced the best species count so far for the river site. A couple were sighted that we have not seen here previously and the Pleurobranchus weberi are thriving. Interestingly not a single Unidentia angelvaldesi was to be seen, unusual considering the numbers that we have been recording. The Gymnodoris sp. 8 is a new species for us and although being all white is different to Gymnodoris sp. 3 in  that its gills are arranged in a shallow arc rather than a tight complete circle. The Gymnodoris alba also may not be that species. We feel there are at least 3 cryptic species on that page on this website. We will have to await a good revision of this family. The Polycera is our Polycera risbeci and only found by us once before. The Elysia sp. 11 was previously called by us Elysia verrucosa but Kathe Jensen who described E. verrucosa has discounted that in correspondence with Bill Rudman on the Sea Slug Forum. She cites three external anatomical differences.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Analogium amakusanum 6
Bulbaeolidia alba 3
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 2
Doto sp. 3 2
Elysia sp. 11 1
Facelina sp. 4 1
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus 1
Goniobranchus daphne 8
Goniobranchus decorus 1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 3
Gymnodoris alba 4
Gymnodoris sp. 8 1 (New species)
Hypselodoris obscura 4
Phestilla minor 1
Phidiana bourailli 2
Pleurobranchus weberi 7
Polycera risbeci 1
* Pteraeolidia ianthina 9
Trinchesia sibogae 2

Substrate

Pleurobranchus weberi

Bulbaeolidia alba

Analogium amakusanum

Goniobranchus decorus

Pteraeolidia ianthina

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Gymnodoris sp. 8 (New species)

Facelina sp. 4

Phestilla minor

Phestilla minor

Doto sp. 3

Doto sp. 3 - head shot

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Goniobranchus daphne

Hypselodoris obscura

Gymnodoris alba (for now)

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Trinchesia sibogae

Phidiana bourailli

Elysia sp. 11

Polycera risbeci