Nudibranch Central

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Species List: 24-02-2019, Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

14 species sighted at Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 24-02-2019.

A single shore entry dive by Gary and Kelly of 141 minutes. Maximum depth 6.3 m, 26 C water temperature and up to 1 m viz.

The big swells and winds are now on the decline. Standing on the rivers edge the water looked a bit milky but some clearity. We went to the bottom where the vis was a measured metre and started our search. While searching the "tire" I noticed some short hydroids that appeared to be "outlined in white". Upon closer examination I discovered the white outline was the egg mass of Kabeiro christianae! At the end of the dive a new species was found and a new record for the river. Exciting!

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus shell -1
Cratena lineata -1
* Doto sp. 6 -4
Facelina sp. 11 -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -2
Goniobranchus daphne -1
Goniobranchus geometricus -1
Goniobranchus splendidus -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3
Hypselodoris obscura -2
Kabeiro christianae -3 NEW SPECIES
Tenellia sibogae -1
Tenellia sp. 36 -1 NEW RECORD FOR RIVER
Thuridilla carlsoni -1

Entry

Fish Cage viz

Tenellia sibogae

Tenellia sibogae at Fish Cage

Kelly shooting Tenellia sibogae at Fish Cage

Atys semistriatus shell

Facelina sp. 11

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Kabeiro christianae unique egg mass NEW SPECIES

Kabeiro christianae NEW SPECIES

Doto sp. 6

Tenellia sp. 36 NEW RECORD FOR RIVER

Hypselodoris obscura

Kabeiro christianae NEW SPECIES

Kabeiro christianae unique egg mass NEW SPECIES

Kabeiro christianae NEW SPECIES

Flabellina rubrolineata

Goniobranchus geometricus

Hypselodoris obscura

Goniobranchus splendidus

Goniobranchus daphne

Thuridilla carlsoni

Cratena lineata

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Species List: 21-02-2019, Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

10 species sighted at Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 21-02-2019.

A single shore entry dive by Gary and Gail of 172 minutes. Maximum depth 6.8 m, 27 C water temperature and up to 2 m viz.

With big swells and wind forecasted we thought we woud jump in the river once more. Maria and Robin from the US came as a land lab to photograph what we found. The viz was not as bad as I thought it would be and the high tide was 2.1 m so current probably had a say. The species count was low but was still had fun. We had not seen Unidentia sp. in a while and only one animal was found, from under a rock.

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus shell -1
Cratena lineata -4
Cratena simba -1
Flabellina rubrolineata -2
Goniobranchus daphne -3
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3
* Hypselodoris obscura -8
Pteraeolidia semperi -3
Tenellia sibogae -1
Unidentia sp. 1 -1

Maria and Robin at the entry

The Fish Cage

Tenellia sibogae

Substrate

Goniobranchus daphne

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Hypselodoris obscura

Atys semistriatus shell

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Cratena lineata

Pteraeolidia semperi

Flabellina rubrolineata

Flatworm

Unidentia sp. 1

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Species List: 17-02-2019, Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld.

11 species sighted at Fish Cage, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Qld, 17-02-2019.

A single shore entry afternoon come night dive by Gary and Amanda of 147 minutes. Maximum depth 6.1 m, 27 C water temperature and up to 3 m viz.

With the weeks weather looking very inclement another river dive was in order. The water still looks good. The species numbers are down but the dive was enjoyable. The golden hydroid located on the top of the fish cage still contains a single Tenellia sibogae. Finding an Atys semistriatus was the lightlight for me.

Species and number thereof sighted
* Species with highest specimen count

Atys semistriatus -1
Cratena lineata -5
* Doto sp. 6 -6
Flabellina rubrolineata -2
Goniobranchus daphne -5
Goniobranchus sp. 6 -1
Goniodoridella sp. 1 -3
Gymnodoris sp. 21 -1
Hypselodoris obscura -2
Pteraeolidia semperi -1
Tenellia sibogae -1