Thursday, December 1, 2016

Species List: 30-11-2016, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

17 Species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland,
30-11-2016

Adele Pearce, John Gransbury and I on this single shore entry dive of 120 minutes. Maximum depth 6 m, 26 C water temperature and up to 3 m viz.

We entered the water and swam to the Fish Cage where were where met by 4 species. Goniobranchus daphne continues to plague us with its presence. After turning over rock I was greeted by Phyllodesmium acanthorhinum and later by Phyllodesmium karenae. Adele and John were impressed by what the river had to offer.

Number of each species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Dermatobranchus sp. 7 -1
Flabellina angelvaldesi -1
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
* Goniobranchus daphne -14
Goniobranchus decorus -4
Goniobranchus reticulatus -1
Goniobranchus verrieri -1 Juvenile
Goniodoridella savignyi -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -4
Gymnodoris sp. 9 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -6
Jorunna sp. 3 -1
Plakobranchus sp. 1 -1
Phyllodesmium acanthorhinum -1
Phyllodesmium karenae -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -2
Verconia simplex -1

The entry - not bad!

The Fish Cage

Goniobranchus decorus

Jorunna sp. 3

Flabellina angelvaldesi - the only one!

Goniobranchus daphne

Pteraeolidia semperi juvenile

Hypselodoris obscura

Goniodoridella savignyi

Gymnodoris sp. 9

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Phyllodesmium acanthorhinum

The substrate

Adele in action

Dermatobranchus sp. 7

Goniobranchus verrieri juvenile

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Goniobranchus reticulatus

Phyllodesmium karenae

Phyllodesmium karenae - Close up of cerata

Pteraeolidia semperi