Monday, February 8, 2016

Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 03-02-2016

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

Terry and David on this single, afternoon, shore entry dive of 157 minutes. Maximum depth 5.6 m, 26 C water temperature and 2 m viz.

Despite all the recent rain we still had 2 m of visibility with which to grope around for slugs. Halfway through the dive it became very dark due to the arrival of a storm. Torrential rain was still falling when we surfaced and waterfalls were running off the car park areas across the rock revetment into the river. An incredible number of Flabellina angelvaldesi and Pteraeolidia semperi were sighted.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Doto sp. 3 -5
* Flabellina angelvaldesi -70+
Flabellina rubrolineata -1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi -1
Goniobranchus daphne -2
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 9 -1
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -2
Hypselodoris obscura -3
Philinopsis gardineri -1
Pleurobranchus weberi -2
Pteraeolidia semperi -30+
Retusa sp. 3 -1 (To be confirmed)
Trinchesia sibogae -1

Doto sp. 3

Pteraeolidia semperi and Flabellina rubrolineata

Pteraeolidia semperi

Flabellina angelvaldesi - anterior end

Goniobranchus collingwoodi

Retusa sp. 3 (To be confirmed) In situ

Retusa sp. 3 (To be confirmed)

Flabellina rubrolineata 

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Gymnodoris sp. 9

Goniobranchus daphne