Nudibranch Central: Species List: Hancock Shoals, north of Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 01-08-2015

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Species List: Hancock Shoals, north of Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 01-08-2015

30 species sighted at Hancock Shoals, opposite Mt Peregian, north of Coolum, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 95 minute and 1 x 73 minute dives in water depths of 10 m to 13 m. 10 m viz, 19 C water temp and constant but not heavy surge.

Ideal surface conditions provided the opportunity to head further up the coast to the Hancock Shoals. The shallower water here gave us longer bottom times but subjected us to a small but constant (read - annoying) surge. Sea slugs were plentiful and a number of not-so-common species were sighted such as Bornella stellifer, Eubranchus sp. 6, Thuridilla sp. 1 and Tritonia sp. 1 making the effort worthwhile. This is an interesting site with a number of shallower and undercut terraces and also a large number of loose, small rocks and coral plates, providing hiding places, that may be carefully turned to reveal all manner of reclusive creatures.

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

Aegires citrinus -/1
Ardeadoris aff. averni 1/1
Berthellina citrina 1/-
Bornella anguilla 2/1
Bornella stellifer -/1
Chromodoris kuiteri -/1
Chromodoris sp. 1 2/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 4/5
Eubranchus sp. 6 1/-
Glossodoris vespa 1/3
Goniobranchus conchyliatus 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 11/4
Gymnodoris alba 2/2
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/1
Hoplodoris nodulosa 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 1/2
Hypselodoris maritima 1/-
* Hypselodoris obscura 10/6
Hypselodoris whitei 1/-
Jorunna parva 1/-
Mexichromis trilineata 2/-
Phyllidia madangensis -/1
Phyllidiella lizae -/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
Sagaminopteron ornatum 4/3
Thuridilla sp. 1 1/-
Thuridilla splendens -/2
Trinchesia sibogae 2/-
Tritonia sp. 1 1/-
Tritoniopsis alba 1/1