Species List: La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 28-03-2016

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

Gary, Julie and Terry on this single, shore entry dive of 146 minutes. Maximum depth 5.5  m, 26 C water temperature and 5 m viz. The number and variety of species were down on our usual findings, however there were some interesting finds nonetheless.  This was only the second time we have seen Aglaja sp. 3 - at only 2 mm a very difficult critter to find.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Aglaja sp. 3 - 1
Bulbaeolidia alba - 1
Elysia pusilla - 1
Goniobranchus daphne - 16
Goniodoridella sp. 1 - 6
Hypselodoris obscura - 5
Pleurobranchus weberi - 1
*Pteraeolidia semperi - 48

 Aglaja sp. 3

 Bulbaeolidia alba

 Elysia pusilla

 

 Goniobranchus daphne

 Pteraeolidia semperi - mating pair

 Pleurobranchus weberi

 Substrate

 Surface conditions

Hypselodoris obscura

Species List: Point Cartwright intertidal, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 27-03-2016

3 species sighted at the intertidal area at Point Cartwright, Sunshine Coast, Australia. Overcast day with a few showers, little wind. We spent most of our time searching the rocks close to the Mooloolah River mouth.  The rocks here are well embedded in the sand and this may have contributed to the relatively low numbers of species sighted.

Species name - species count
*Most species counted

Aplysia argus - 14
Elysia coodgeensis - 1
*Haminoea sp. 1 - 62

Haminoea sp. 1

Species List: Shelly Beach, Caloundra intertidal, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 26-03-2016

9 species sighted at Shelly Beach, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Australia intertidal area. Perfect sunny day little wind.

Species name - species count
*Most species counted

Aplysia argus - 13
Dendrodoris nigra - 2
Dolabifera dolabifera - 1
Elysia coodgeensis - 2
Haminoea sp. 2 - 4
Hypselodoris maritima - 1
Sebadoris fragilis - 1
Tayuva lilacina - 1
*Vayssierea caledonica - 29

Tayuva lilacina

 Aplysia argus - juvenile 9 mm

 Haminoea sp. 2

 Dendrodoris nigra 

 Hypselodoris maritima

 Sebadoris fragilis

Surface conditions 

Vayssierea caledonica

Species List: TJs Boulders, Currimundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 24-03-2016

23 species sighted at TJs Boulders, Curriumundi Reef, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Gary and Terry on this excursion consisting of 1 x 72 minute and 1 x 69 minute dive in water depths of 15 m to 20 m. 8 m viz, 26 C water temp and some surge.

The swell had built a little since our last dive so we made the decision to venture to this slightly deeper site to try to avoid the worst of the surge. The surge was still strong at times and this possibly explains the slightly lower than usual species count for the area.  The Pteraeolidia semperi were present everywhere and our species count probably underestimates their relative abundance.  A nice find were the Phestilla melanobranchia which can be easy to miss because of their excellent camouflage.

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

Bornella anguilla 1/1
Dermatobranchus oculus 2/1
Dermatobranchus ornatus -/2
Dermatobranchus rodmani 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/3
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/-
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 2/3
Goniobranchus verrieri 1/-
Gymnodoris alba -/1
Hypselodoris bullockii 1/-
Hypselodoris emma 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/1
Hypselodoris obscura -/2
Phestilla melanobrachia 2/-
Phyllidia ocellata 3/2
Phyllidiella lizae 1/3
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/2
Phyllodesmium macphersonae 1/-
*Pteraeolidia semperi 38/35
Roboastra luteolineata 1/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 2/3
Tritoniopsis alba 1/-

 Tritoniopsis alba

 Goniobranchus geometricus

Phestilla melanobrachia

 Sagaminopteron ornatum

 Goniobranchus splendidus

 Bornella anguilla

 Phyllidiella pustulosa

 Dermatobranchus ornatus

 Substrate

 Hypselodoris jacksoni

  Phyllodesmium macphersonae

 Doriprismatica atromarginata

 Flabellina rubrolineata

 Gymnodoris alba

 

Phyllidia ocellata

Species List: Moffat Beach, Caloundra intertidal, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 23-03-2016

5 species sighted at Moffat Beach, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Australia intertidal area. Perfect sunny day. The species count was low. Sunny day little wind.

Aplysia argus -4
Goniobranchus decorus -1
Goniobranchus splendidus -1
Haminoea sp. 1 -12  (plus one shell)
Vayssierea caledonica -60+

If you wanted to study Flatworms today was the day, there was about a dozen species and some I have never seen before, including a small brilliant yellow animal.


Moffat Beach Intertidal site east


Moffat Beach Intertidal site west


Haminoea sp. 1


Haminoea sp. 1 (arrowed)


Goniobranchus splendidus


Aplysia argus (mating pair)


Goniobranchus decorus