Nudibranch Central

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Species List: 03-02-2022, Route 66, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

20 species sighted at Route 66, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 03-02-2022.

A single solo shore entry morning with Gary of 302 minutes. Maximum depth 5.8 m, 28 C water temperature, up to 3 m viz.

I can't say enough about midweek diving with plenty of parking! A 2.1 m tidal flow was thought to be way more with horizontal climbing the mode of searching. The challenge was on.At one point the current picked up to what seemed like 10 knots! I was holding on with both hands waiting for it cease. Cratena pawarshindeorum is in lots of places, in fact 35 animals were recorded! Amazing. See composite. Including some very tiny juveniles. A juvenile Hypselodoris jacksoni was spotted as well as a Placida kevinlee. When the current went away I got a chance to search the sand, quite a few bubble shells to record.

Species and number thereof sighted

* Species with highest specimen count

Cratena lineata -15

* Cratena pawarshindeorum -35!

Doto sp. 3 -1

Eubranchus sp. 10 -8

Flabellina lotos -19

Flabellina sp. 7 -1

Goniobranchus daphne -1

Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3

Hypselodoris jacksoni -1

Hypselodoris obscura -8

Knoutsodonta maugeansis -1

Liloa brevis shell -15

Placida kevinleei -1

Retusa amphizosta shell -3

Retusa sp. 6 shell -1

Ringicula sp. 1 shell -1

Roxaniella leucampyx shell -1

Tenellia puellula -1

Tenellia sibogae -1

Vellicolla amphorella shell -1

Early entry

Clarity

Exit

Surface

Also found today...

Tenellia puellula

Hypselodoris obscura

Flabellina lotos

Cratena lineata

Flabellina lotos

Hypselodoris obscura

Liloa brevis

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Cratena lineata

Retusa amphizosta

Liloa brevis

Vellicolla amphorella

Roxaniella leucampyx

Retusa amphizosta

Substrate

Knoutsodonta maugeansis

Substrate

Eubranchus sp. 10

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Eubranchus sp. 10

Tenellia sibogae

Hypselodoris obscura

Hypselodoris jacksoni

Doto sp. 3

Eubranchus sp. 10 jungle

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Goniobranchus daphne

Flabellina lotos and Flabellina sp. 7

Flabellina sp. 7

Substrate

Ringicula sp. 1

Liloa brevis

Substrate Big Rock

Substrate

Placida kevinleei

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Species List: 31-01-2022, Route 66 - Fish Cage to Rotunda, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

17 species sighted at Route 66 - Fish Cage to Rotunda, Mooloolah River, La Balsa Park, Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. 31-01-2022.

A single solo shore entry afternoon come night dive with Gary of 301 minutes. Maximum depth 5.6 m, 28 C water temperature, up to 4 m viz.

I yet again love midweek diving with plenty of parking! Cratena pawarshindeorum is still out in force, nice to see. A couple of Philinopsis falciphallus were recorded when night came. The first record of a Starfish, I know of in the river, was a surprise! In the beginning of the dive the vis was about 2 m as the tide came in it cleared to 4 m. A fresh water top layer made the substrate green. With the warmer water I wonder if that is affecting the species count... Flabellina sp. 7 was a great find and a new record for the river.

Species and number thereof sighted

* Species with highest specimen count

Anteaeolidiella ireneae -1

Cratena lineata -10

Cratena pawarshindeorum -8

Cratena simba -1

Eubranchus sp. 10 -5

Flabellina lotos -9

Flabellina sp. 7 -1 NEW RECORD FOR THE RIVER

Goniobranchus daphne -4

Goniodoridella sp. 1 -5

Gymnodoris sp. 28 -1