Nudibranch Central: July 2018

Monday, July 30, 2018

Species List: 29-07-2018, Fairyland Gutter, Gneering Shoals, Sunshine Coast, Qld

31 species sighted at Fairyland Gutter, Gneering Shoals, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 29-07-2018.

David and Gary on this excursion consisting of 2 x 72 minute dives in water depths up to 17.6 m, 20 m viz, 20 C water temp.

A visit to one of the popular gutter dive sites proved rewarding. Only half the Team was present today and we recorded some very interesting nudibranchs. The elusive 'Blue Tambja' or Tambja caeruleocirrus 40 mm was found again as well as Aegires hapsis 10 mm. In 15 years we have only recorded these two species 5 times.

Again winter and the lack of rain has brought very clear water to our 'backyard'. 20 C water temps seem to be the norm this winter so far with August getting a little cooler.

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

Aegires hapsis 1/-
Ardeadoris sp. 2 2/1
Chromodoris elisabethina 1/1
Chromodoris kuiteri 1/2
Chromodoris striatella 1/-
Dermatobranchus oculus 1/-
Dermatobranchus tuberculatus 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 3/-
Flabellina exoptata 1/-
Flabellina rubrolineata -/1
Flabellina sp. 1 -/1
Glossodoris vespa -/1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi 1/-
Goniobranchus splendidus -/2
Goniobranchus sp. 7 1/-
Gymnodoris sp. 10 1/-
* Hypselodoris jacksoni 2/4
Hypselodoris obscura -/1
Hypselodoris tryoni -/1
Hypselodoris whitei 2/-
Hypselodoris zephyra 2/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidia picta 1/-
Phyllidiella lizae 1/-
Phyllidiella pustulosa 1/1
Pleurobranchus peronii -/1
Tambja caeruleocirrus -/1
Thuridilla carlsoni 1/-
* Thuridilla splendens 1/5
Tyrannodoris luteolineata -/1
Verconia simplex 3/-

Surface conditions

Substrate

Phyllidia ocellata

Thuridilla splendens

Dermatobranchus tuberculatus

A pair of Hypselodoris jacksoni

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Hypselodoris zephyra

Phyllidiella pustulosa

Verconia simplex

Aegires hapsis

Phyllidiella lizae?

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Chromodoris elisabethina

Chromodoris kuiteri

Hypselodoris obscura

Tambja caeruleocirrus

Ardeadoris sp. 2

A pair of Hypselodoris jacksoni

Glossodoris vespa

Aegires hapsis

Chromodoris striatella

Dermatobranchus oculus

Flabellina sp. 1

Glossodoris vespa

Goniobranchus sp. 7

Pleurobranchus peronii

Tambja caeruleocirrus

Tyrannodoris luteolineata

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Species List: 27-07-2018, Terry's Delight, Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Qld

37 species sighted at Terry's Delight, Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 27-07-2018.

Terry, David and Gary on this excursion consisting of 1 x 64 minute and 1 x 81 minute dives in water depths up to 18 m, 20 m viz, 20 C water temp and light surge.

The weather report looked like another good time to go diving as winter continues with cool, clear water. Nudibranchs came out to play. This site has undulating big, long gutters with flat tops teaming with soft and hard corals. Finding Chromodoris magnifica, Colpodaspis thompsoni and Tambja amakusana was exciting for we have not seen these species in a while. Sagaminopteron ornatum was out in force today and finding a breeding pair was nice. Thounna sp. 6 our 750th species was found as well.

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

Aegires citrinus -/1
Aegires flores 2/1
Ardeadoris sp. 2 2/4
Bornella anguilla -/2
Chromodoris elisabethina 2/5
Chromodoris kuiteri 5/6
Chromodoris magnifica -/1
Colpodaspis thompsoni -/2
Dermatobranchus ornatus 1/-
Dermatobranchus sp. 7 1/-
Diversidoris aurantionodulosa 1/-
Doriprismatica atromarginata 9/5
Flabellina exoptata 1/1
Flabellina rubrolineata -/2
Glossodoris rufomarginata -/1
Glossodoris vespa -/1
Goniobranchus collingwoodi 1/-
Goniobranchus geometricus 1/1
Goniobranchus leopardus -/1
Goniobranchus splendidus 5/3
Gymnodoris sp. 14 1/-
Hypselodoris jacksoni 7/3
Hypselodoris obscura 6/1
Hypselodoris zephyra 2/-
Jorunna sp. 3 1/-
Mariaglaja inornata 1/-
Phyllidia ocellata 1/1
Phyllidiella annulata 1/1
Phyllidiella lizae 3/1
Phyllidiella pustulosa 4/2
Pteraeolidia semperi 1/1
* Sagaminopteron ornatum 13/2
Tambja amakusana -/1
Tambja morosa 3/-
Thorunna sp. 6 1/- NEW SPECIES Our 750th
Thuridilla splendens 3/2
Tritoniopsis elegans 1/1