Gary Cobb has been fastidiously keeping accurate species records for almost 20 years!
An old saying once said "If you're not in it you won't win it!".
True words Sheryl Wright, as she walked with her partner and dogs along the off-lead section of Maroochy River at Pin Cushion Island on Thursday, September 29.
Here on ‘North Shore’ there is an isolated shallow body of sea water (a small lagoon) where Syphonota geographica (Aplysiidae family), was discovered by chance. Right ride right place!
Fitting that this new species now wears the badge of the 1111th sea slug species found on the Sunshine Coast by citizen scientists. We really do live in a special place with incredible species diversity.
Today we walked to the little lagoon early in the morning as Sheryl did when she first found them. Ahh success! They were there in large numbers and we saw at least 10 to 15 individuals. Some had even crawled onto dry sand and burrowed in waiting until the next high tide. We managed to pluck them out and get them into deeper water where we observed them moving along the sandy substrate.
As we photographed the new animals, it was apparent that the patterns of this species were quite strikingly beautiful. When it was first described by scientists it resembled a map to them, hence the name 'geographica'. The pattern can vary quite dramatically across different habitat locations.
This species is typically seen in waters around the world and now finally discovered here on the Sunshine Coast. Maybe it has been here for a long time going about its business unnoticed or maybe temperature changes have allowed it to thrive in our warm waters.
Sizes of Syphonota geographica range from 30-70 mm.
Also living in the same lagoon is another very interesting species called Bursatella leachii, size up to 200 mm. This beauty is also a member of the Aplysiidae family and has brilliant blue spots on its large hair like body (see last photo).
