SpeciesList: 29-04-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld

11 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 29-04-2017.

A single shore entry dive by Julie, Terry, Gary and David of 104 minutes. Maximum depth 6.0 m, 23 C water temperature and up to 1 m viz.

There was a lot of particulate matter in the water that reduced the visibility considerably but did not affect the enjoyment of the dive. We all stayed in touch and moved slowly over the substrate examining it closely. Seven of the eleven species sighted were aeolids that were feeding on the hydroid coverage. The sighting of Facelina sp. 11 is only the second time we have seen it.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Atys semistriatus -1
Cratena lineata -12
Facelina bourailli - 1
Facelina sp. 11 -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -22
Goniobranchus daphne -2
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -27
Hypselodoris obscura -4
Pteraeolidia semperi - 1
Tenellia sibogae - 2
Tenellia sp. 23 -1

Cratena lineata

Tenellia sp. 23

Atys semistriatus

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Tenellia sibogae

Facelina bourailli

Before the descent

Substrate

Flabellina rubrolineata

Hypselodoris obscura

Facelina sp. 11

Goniobranchus daphne

Channel beacon

Species List: 25-04-2017, Coles Hole, Outer Gneerings, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld

39 species sighted at Coles Hole, Outer Gneerings, off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 25-04-2017.

Julie, Terry, Gary and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 70 minute and 1 x 71 minute dives in water depths from 16 m to 20 m. 15 m viz, 24 C water temp and a little surge.

Conditions were much improved compared to our excursion out to the Gneerings last week. Very pleasant dives on interesting terrain and a good cross section of sea slugs were sighted. A little deeper in parts than our usual profile. The outstanding find of the trip was Euselenops luniceps and not so much as a species but rather by the way it was sighted. On the ascent after the first dive it was observed to be swimming in the water column at 10 metres depth. Doris sp. 1 is only sighted rarely and the Phyllidiopsis xishaensis only once before by us. We follow Yonow, 2002 in giving it this name.

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

Aegires citrinus 1/-
Berthellina citrina -/1
Carminodoris nodulosa -/1
Chelidonura inornata -/1
* Chromodoris elisabethina 3/5
Chromodoris sp. 1 -/1
Cratena lineata 1/-
Dermatobranchus oculus 1/-
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/-
Dermatobranchus rodmani  1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 3/2
Doris sp. 1 1/-
Euselenops luniceps 1/-
Flabellina sp. 1 -/1
Flabellina rubrolineata 2/-
Glossodoris vespa 1/1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi 1/-
Halgerda aurantiomaculata -/1
Hexabranchus sanguineus 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 3/-
Hypselodoris obscura 1/2
Hypselodoris sp. 2 3/-
Hypselodoris sp. 6 1/-
Mexichromis trilineata 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata -/1
Phyllidia picta -/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/2
Phyllidiopsis cardinalis 1/1
Phyllidiopsis xishaensis -/1
Phyllodesmium sp. 2 -/1
Sagaminopteron psychedelicum 1/-
Tenellia sp. 6 2/-
Tenellia sp. 33 2/-
Thorunna daniellae -/1
Thorunna sp. 4 1/-
Thuridilla carlsoni 1/-
Thuridilla splendens 3/1
Tritoniopsis elegans -/1
Verconia simplex 2/-

Aegires citrinus

Glossodoris vespa

Cratena lineata

Hypselodoris sp. 6

Halgerda aurantiomaculata

Surface conditions

Phyllidiopsis xishaensis

Towards the surface

Phyllidiopsis cardinalis

Goniobranchus collingwoodi

Verconia simplex

Hypselodoris sp. 2

Thorunna sp. 4 

Mexichromis trilineata 

Flabellina sp. 1

The dive platform

Substrate

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Hypselodoris obscura

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Thuridilla splendens

Hexabranchus sanguineus

Doris sp. 1 

Surface interval

Swimming Euselenops luniceps

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Chromodoris elisabethina

Carminodoris nodulosa

Chelidonura inornata

Phyllidia ocellata

Berthellina citrina

Species List: 27-04-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

10 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 27-04-2017

A single shore entry dive by Gary and Chris of 130 minutes. Maximum depth 6.2 m, 23 C water temperature and up to 2-4 m viz.

Again the aeolids came out to play! The viz was very murky on top but nice on the bottom. The dive was from stair to stair this trip, lots to see.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Ardeadoris carlsoni -1 New Species for the river
Cratena lineata -5
* Flabellina rubrolineata -32
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus daphne -4
Goniodoridella savignyi -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -11
Hypselodoris obscura -1
Pteraeolidia semperi -2
Tenellia sibogae -6

Flabellina rubrolineata

Flabellina rubrolineata

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Fish Cage

Tenellia sibogae

Tenellia sibogae

Tenellia sibogae food source Fish Cage

Cratena lineata

Goniobranchus daphne

Chris checking out Tenellia sibogae Fish Cage

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniobranchus daphne

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Cratena lineata

Flabellina rubrolineata

Flabellina rubrolineata

Ardeadoris carlsoni - New Species for the river

Ardeadoris carlsoni - New Species for the river

Hypselodoris obscura

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus