A single shore entry dive by Julie, Terry, Gary and David of 92+ minutes. Maximum depth 5.1 m, 20 C water temperature and maximum 6 m viz.
The whole team was back on deck for a river dive. Nearly half of our species count was comprised of hydroid eating aeolids. This is an indicator of the prolific growth of certain hydroid species in the river at the moment. Cratena lineata and Flabellina rubrolineata are present in considerable numbers with some individuals quite large. Their spawn is draped all over the hydroids so we suspect there might be a decent population level for some time barring some intruding event. The sponge eating dorids, although represented by a cross section of species, are not present in large numbers. Elysia sp. 11, Goniodoridella sp. 5 and Goniodoridella sp. 6 are good finds not only from their uncommon appearance but also due to either their small size or cryptic appearance. The Tenellia sp. 51 may or may not be a variation of our Tenellia sp. 44/50. It presents with deep black rhinophores and oral tentacles. There is a black mask joining the oral tentacles. There are no white tips to rhinophores, oral tentacles or cerata. The cerata lack the distinct black line that instead diffuses into both the blue and white regions it separates. We separate it for record keeping purposes.
Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count
* Cratena lineata -40+
Dendrodoris nigra -1
Doto sp. 3 -1
Elysia sp. 11 -1
Facellina bourailli - 2
* Flabellina rubrolineata -40+
Goniobranchus daphne -2
Goniobranchus geometricus -1
Goniodoridella savignyi -6
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -10
Goniodoridella sp. 5 - 1
Goniodoridella sp. 6 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -4
Pteraeolidia semperi -2
Tenellia sp. 23 -2
Tenellia sp. 51 -1 (New species?)
Unidentia sp. 1 -1
Unidentia sp. 5 -6
Flabellina rubrolineata - two portraits
- above & below
Flabellina rubrolineata
Unidentia sp. 1
Goniodoridella sp. 1
Cratena lineata
Hypselodoris obscura
Goniodoridella savignyi
Pteraeolidia semperi
Goniobranchus daphne
Goniobranchus geometricus
Tenellia sp. 51 (New species?)
Facellina bourailli
Goniodoridella sp. 5
An entry along the La Balsa site
Ready to descend
Substrate
Goniodoridella sp. 6
Substrate
Elysia sp. 11
Tenellia sp. 23
Flabellina rubrolineata
- one of the large specimens
The beacon
Dendrodoris nigra
Doto sp. 3
Flabellina rubrolineata & Cratena lineata
- currently most populous in the river
