Nudibranch Central: January 2016

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 21-01-2016

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

Terry and David on this single shore entry evening dive of 153 minutes. Maximum depth 6.2 m, 26 C water temperature and 3 m viz.

A couple of nice finds in the list for this dive including a new Flabellina for our records.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus -2
* Flabellina angelvaldesi -30+
Flabellina rubrolineata -1
Flabellina sp. 3 -1 New species
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -2
Goniobranchus daphne -3
Goniobranchus decorus -2
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3
Hypselodoris obscura -5
Noumeaella sp. 1 -1
Pleurobranchus weberi -4
Pteraeolidia semperi -6
Sclerodoris cf. coriacea -1
Trinchesia sp. 23 -1

Atys semistriatus

Goniobranchus daphne

Hypselodoris obscura

Flabellina angelvaldesi - in large numbers

Flabellina sp. 3 - New species

Pleurobranchus weberi - a 200 mm long specimen

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniobranchus decorus

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Noumeaella sp. 1 - second time seen

Trinchesia sp. 23

Atys semistriatus - in situ

Sclerodoris cf. coriacea - in situ

Sclerodoris cf. coriacea

Species List: Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 20-01-2016

34 species sighted Nudi Ledge, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Terry, and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 106 minute and 1 x 83 minute dives in water depths of 14 m to 17 m. 8 m viz, 26 C water temp and no surge.

A good cross section of species sighted again at this site.

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

Ardeadoris aff. averni 1/-
Bornella anguilla 6/4
Bulbaeolidia alba -/1
Chelidonura inornata 3/-
Chromodoris kuiteri -/3
Dermatobranchus cf. primus 1/-
Dermatobranchus oculus 2/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 3/1
Dermatobranchus rodmani 1/1
Diversidoris crocea -/1
* Doriprismatica atromarginata 4/8
Flabellina rubrolineata 2/-
Glossodoris vespa 1/1
Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus 1/-
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 3/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus 2/1
Hypselodoris bullockii 2/1
Jorunna sp. 3 2/2
Noumea romeri 1/-
Phyllidia exquisita 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidia varicosa 1/-
Phyllidiella lizae 2/2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 4/3
Pleurolidia juliae 1/3
Pteraeolidia semperi 2/2
* Sagaminopteron ornatum 6/6
Thuridilla carlsoni 1/-
Trapania vitta 1/-
Trinchesia sibogae -/2
Trinchesia sp. 3 1/-
Trinchesia sp. 20 -/1
Tritoniopsis alba -/1

Brillant surface conditions

Phyllidia exquisita

Goniobranchus geometricus

Noumea romeri

Goniobranchus cf. reticulatus

Hypselodoris bullockii

Ardeadoris aff. averni

Phyllidiella lizae

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Bornella anguilla

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Pleurolidia juliae

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Sagaminopteron ornatum

Diversidoris crocea

Trinchesia sibogae

Substrate

Thuridilla carlsoni

Dermatobranchus ornatus

Substrate showing ledge - Dive reel, centre top,

Hypselodoris bullockii, bottom right

Terry at work

Trapania vitta

Glossodoris vespa

Chromodoris kuiteri

Species List: Kings Beach intertidal, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 18-01-2016

2 species sighted at Kings Beach, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Vanessa & Terry on this low tide shore excursion.

Only two species found on this trip lasting for about 105 minutes. It has been a while since we found the ‘tramp’ species Spurilla braziliana which had been present in large numbers around 18 months ago. Although we searched at low tide the water was still too high to get to the more productive areas. The Herviella claror was a nice find not having been sighted for several years.

Herviella claror -1
Spurilla braziliana -1

Spurilla braziliana

Herviella claror

Conditions on site

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 17-01-2016

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

Terry and Vanessa on this single shore entry dive of 108 minutes. Maximum depth 6.4 m, 26 C water temperature and 1 m viz.

Still poor viz. Vanessa spotted a new Goniodoris sp. for our records and Terry took a sequence of a Gymnodoris feeding.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena simba -1
* Flabellina angelvaldesi -20+
Goniobranchus daphne -7
Goniobranchus decorus -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3
Goniodoris sp. 4 -1 New species
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -2
Pleurobranchus weberi -2
Pteraeolidia semperi -5
Sakuraeolis nungunoides -1
Trinchesia cf. yamasui -1