Nudibranch Central: 2016

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Species List: 28-12-2016, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

21 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 28-12-2016.

Gary, David, Lisa & John on this single shore entry dive of 136 minutes. Maximum depth 7.2 m, 25 C water temperature and 3 m viz.

A morning dive from the steps further-most downstream in the park proper. A couple of not-so-common species sighted. The first sighting for sometime of Flabellina angelvaldesi. We are trying to decide if it is the last of its species here or the first of a possible revival. Time and further dives will tell.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Note: The genus Tenellia has absorbed Trinchesia and Phestilla (among others). Please refer to the revised family description for Fioniidae in the Species List on the website.

Chelidonura fulvipunctata -1
Cratena simba -1
Dermatobranchus funiculus -3
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 -15
Flabellina angelvaldesi -1
* Goniobranchus daphne -25
Goniobranchus reticulatus -1
Goniobranchus verrieri -1
Goniodoridella savignyi -2
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -7
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 17 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -13
Lomanotus sp. 5 -1
Philinopsis falciphallus -4
Philinopsis orientalis -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -7
Tenellia sibogae -3
Tenellia sp. 24 -1
Tenellia sp. 29 -1
Verconia simplex -1

Lomanotus sp. 5 - on hydroid food source

Goniobranchus reticulatus

Tenellia sibogae - stripping off
the hydroid polyps

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Philinopsis falciphallus

Goniobranchus verrieri

Verconia simplex

Chelidonura fulvipunctata

Gymnodoris sp. 17

Tenellia sp. 29

Surface conditions

Goniobranchus daphne

Substrate

Dermatobranchus funiculus

Dermatobranchus sp. 7

Pteraeolidia semperi

Hypselodoris obscura

Cratena simba

Goniodoridella savignyi

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Philinopsis orientalis

Flabellina angelvaldesi - a final sighting
or a revival?

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Species List: 24-12-2016 La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

18 Species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 24-12-2016

Gary & David on this single shore entry dive of 143 minutes. Maximum depth 6 m, 26 C water temperature and 2 m viz.

The visibility is still poor being a product of the turbulence outside and the small tides but the water temperature keeps rising. Plenty to see if you take the time to look carefully. Phyllodesmium acanthorhinum was sighted this being only the second time we have seen this species and thus far only in the River.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Atys semistriatus shell -2
Atys sp. 1 shell -1
Eubranchus sp. 10 -2
Godiva quadricolor -9
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
* Goniobranchus daphne -15
Goniobranchus decorus -5
Goniobranchus reticulatus -1
Goniobranchus verrieri -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -6
Goniodoridella sp. 5 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 9 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -7
Jorunna sp. 3 -1
Phyllodesmium acanthorhinum -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -3
Tenellia sibogae -9 (previously Trinchesia sibogae)
Tornatina sp. 1 shell -1

Eubranchus sp. 10 on hydroid host

Gymnodoris sp. 9

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Godiva quadricolor

Phyllodesmium acanthorhinum - uncommon

Goniobranchus verrieri - not often
we see the gills displayed

Goniodoridella sp. 5

Jorunna sp. 3

Surface conditions - looking downstream

Tenellia sibogae

Goniobranchus daphne

Looking, looking, looking

Atys sp. 1 - Shell only

Substrate

Goniobranchus decorus

Hypselodoris obscura - mating pair

Goniobranchus reticulatus

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Pteraeolidia semperi

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Species List: 22-12-2016, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

11 Species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 22-12-2016

Gary and Chris on this single shore entry dive of 95 minutes. Maximum depth 6.5 m, 24 C water temperature and 1 to 3 m viz.

The mission was to find Godiva which involved scouring the sand. We found 8 animals and then the pressure was off. The longer we dived the worse the viz got, and the darker it got!

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Godiva quadricolor -8
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -4
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
* Goniobranchus daphne -12
Goniobranchus decorus -5
Goniobranchus splendidus -1
Goniobranchus verrieri -1
Hypselodoris obscura -4
Plakobranchus sp. 1 -2
Pteraeolidia semperi -3
Trinchesia sibogae -10