Sunday, September 24, 2017

Species List: 23-09-2017, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld

12 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 23-09-2017.

A single shore entry dive by Gary and Elisha of 140 minutes. Maximum depth 6.5 m, 22 C water temperature and up to 8 m viz.

The water temp is now at 22C and hopefully more species will start appearing in the river. Goniobranchus sp. 6 is one of those that disappeared during winter and has made an appearance once more. The highlight was a 50 mm Dendrodoris denisoni without a front end or rhinophores. The animal looked healthy and was making way over the sand quite nicely.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena lineata -5
Cratena sp. 2 -1
Dendrodoris denisoni -1
Eubranchus sp. 10 -1
Facelina bourailli -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -4
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus -1
Goniobranchus daphne -14
Goniobranchus sp. 6 -1
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -15
Gymnodoris sp. 10 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -5

Entry point

Hypselodoris obscura

Facelina bourailli

Cratena sp. 2

Eubranchus sp. 10

Flabellina rubrolineata

The substrate

Elisha posing

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Dendrodoris denisoni

Dendrodoris denisoni

Goniobranchus daphne

Cratena lineata

The substrate

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniobranchus daphne 

Cratena lineata

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Goniobranchus sp. 6

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus