Friday, October 12, 2018

Species List: 12-10-2018, Rotunda, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

21 species sighted at Rotunda, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 12-10-2018.

A single shore entry dive by Gary, Chris and Jason of 126 minutes. Maximum depth 5.5 m, 23 C water temperature and up to 4 m viz.

With the weather turning inclement we thought we would try the river and we were surprised to find the water clarity quite good. From the stair we drifted with current, which was not very fast, to the Pandanus tree before descending where there is a big wall. Right away 5 species were recorded in about a square metre. The smallest Bulbaeolidia alba was found at about 2-3 mm. A very large Marionia pustulosa was waiting for us to shoot. The highlights for me were finding the second Costasiella sp. 1 and 4 Weinkauffia reliqua. Goniodoridella species ruled the bottom today!

Species and number thereof sighted
*Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus -1
Bulbaeolidia alba -1
Costasiella sp. 1 -1
Cratena lineata -2
Cratena sp. 5 -2
Facelina sp. 8 -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -2
Goniobranchus daphne -7
Goniobranchus decorus -1
Goniodoridella savignyi -10
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -18
Gymnodoris sp. 17 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -3
Hypselodoris zephyra -1
Marionia pustulosa -1
Tenellia sp. 3 -1
Tenellia sp. 24 -1
Tenellia sp. 52 -1
Unidentia sp. 1 -3
Unidentia sp. 2 -6
Weinkauffia reliqua -4

Entry

Drifting

Substrate

Unidentia sp. 2

Chris at work

Goniobranchus daphne

Goniodoridella savignyi

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Unidentia sp. 2

Substrate

Goniodoridella savignyi

Cratena lineata

Tenellia sp. 24

Three Goniodoridella savignyi

Cratena lineata

Goniodoridella savignyi

Weinkauffia reliqua

Weinkauffia reliqua

Unidentia sp. 1

Costasiella sp. 1

Costasiella sp. 1

Gymnodoris sp. 17

Facelina sp. 8

Bulbaeolidia alba

Hypselodoris obscura

Tenellia sp. 3

Weinkauffia reliqua

Marionia pustulosa

Marionia pustulosa business end

The second Tenellia sp. 52

Cratena sp. 5

Atys semistriatus

Hypselodoris zephyra

Costasiella sp. 1

Goniobranchus decorus

Bulbaeolidia alba

Weinkauffia reliqua

Weinkauffia reliqua