51 species sighted at Hancock Shoal, off Mt. Peregian (Emu Mountain), Sunshine Coast, Qld, 17-02-2017.
Julie, Terry, Gary and David were joined by Sue & Rogan on this excursion consisting of 1 x 101 minute and 1 x 94 minute dives in water depths from 11 m to 13 m. 12 m viz, 27 C water temp and some surge.
Following the past week of unsettled weather we thoroughly enjoyed the conditions during the trip up to the Hancock Shoal. This area has proved to be one of remarkable diversity. Over 70 different species have been sighted during this and the previous trip there. On this trip we were rewarded with a new species -
Discodoris coerulescens. This was revealed after the dives during a review of the images. It appears that we have found this species previously but it had been mixed up with another of our species namely
Discodoris lilacina. Whilst similar in appearance there are a number of external differences the most obvious being the opaque white spots around the edge of the mantle.
Number of each species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count
Aegires citrinus -/3
Aegires gardineri 1/-
* Aplysia parvula 10+/10+
Ardeadoris sp. 2 1/-
Berthella martensi -/1
Berthellina citrina 3/3
Bornella anguilla 1/1
Chromodoris aspersa 1/-
Chromodoris elisabethina 1/2
Chromodoris sp. 1 -/1
Dendrodoris tuberculosa -/1
Dermatobranchus oculus -/1
Dermatobranchus sp. 8 -/1
Discodoris coerulescens 1/- (New species)
Diversidoris flava -/1
Dolabrifera dolabrifera 3/2
Doriprismatica atromarginata 7/6
Favorinus japonicus 1/-
Flabellina sp. 1 1/1
Glossodoris vespa 3/1
Goniobranchus geometricus 2/-
Goniobranchus reticulatus 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus 7/2
Gymnodoris alba -/1
Gymnodoris sp. 10 1/-
Halgerda albocristata 1/-
Halgerda tessellata -/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus 2/1
Hypselodoris emma 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 3/5
Hypselodoris maculosa 2/-
Hypselodoris obscura 1/1
Hypselodoris sagamiensis -/1
Hypselodoris whitei 3/-
Hypselodoris zephyra -/1
Mexichromis festiva 3/-
Mexichromis macropus 2/-
Mexichromis trilineata 8/2
Phyllidia guamensis 1/-
Phyllidia elegans 2/-
Phyllidia exquisita -/1
Phyllidia picta -/1
Phyllidia varicosa -/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/2
Pleurolidia juliae 1/-
Sagaminopteron ornatum 3/2
Sagaminopteron psychedelicum 1/1
Stiliger aureomarginatus -/1
Tenellia sp. 33 -/1
Thuridilla splendens 5/4
Tritoniopsis elegans 3/2
Chromodoris aspersa - not common
Discodoris coerulescens - New species
Dolabrifera dolabrifera
Bornella anguilla
Pleurolidia juliae
Mexichromis festiva
Mexichromis trilineata - six specimens
carving up a sponge
Mexichromis trilineata - singular
Berthellina citrina
Favorinus japonicus
Aplysia parvula
Glossodoris vespa
Chromodoris sp. 1
Gymnodoris alba
Stiliger aureomarginatus
Halgerda tessellata
Tenellia sp. 33
Diversidoris flava
Phyllidiella pustulosa
Aegires citrinus
Aegires gardineri
Ardeadoris sp. 2
Berthella martensi - exhibiting autotomy
of mantle segments with gill exposed
Dendrodoris tuberculosa
Dermatobranchus oculus
Goniobranchus splendidus
Hypselodoris sagamiensis - juvenile, maybe
Halgerda albocristata
Hypselodoris jacksoni
Sagaminopteron ornatum
Sagaminopteron psychedelicum
Thuridilla splendens
Hypselodoris maculosa
Tritoniopsis elegans
Gymnodoris sp. 10
Mexichromis macropus
Phyllidia guamensis
Phyllidia elegans
Goniobranchus reticulatus
Hypselodoris whitei
Flabellina sp. 1
Chromodoris elisabethina
Chromodoris elisabethina - a little different
