Friday, April 4, 2014

Species List: Clown Reef, Gneering Shoals, Sunshine Coast, 02-04-2014

21 species found at Clown Reef, Gneering Shoals, Sunshine Coast.
Terry and David on this excursion consisting of 1 x 87 minute and 1 x 84 minute dives in water depths of 15m to 20m. 15m viz, 25C water temp, no surge and no current at all this time.

We decided to return to Clown Reef as the viz was excellent earlier in the week. Some different species sighted this time including Thordisa tahala which is a new species for us. Two specimens of different colour were found under an old coral plate.

Number of species sighted: 1st dive/2nd dive
* Species with highest specimen count

Bornella anguilla -/2
Cadlinella ornatissima -/2
Chromodoris burni -/1
* Chromodoris elisabethina 7/-
Chromodoris splendida -/1
Dermatobranchus cf. primus -/1
Doriprismatica atromarginata 2/1
Flabellina rubrolineata 1/1
Goniobranchus albonares 1/-
Hypselodoris whitei -/1
Jorunna sp. 3 -/1
Miamira sinuata 1/-
Phyllidia coelestis 2/-
Phyllidia elegans 3/1
Phyllidia varicosa 2/1
Phyllidiella lizae 2
Phyllidiella pustulosa 4/1
Thordisa tahala -/2 (New species)
Thuridilla carlsoni -/1
Thuridilla splendens 2/1
Trinchesia ornata 1/1

Lovely surface conditions

Dermatobranchus cf. primus

Doriprismatica atromarginata

Thuridilla carlsoni

Hypselodoris whitei

Phyllidia elegans 

Substrate

Miamira sinuata

Trinchesia ornata

Thuridilla splendens

Goniobranchus albonares

Chromodoris splendida - minuscule specimen

Bornella anguilla

Chromodoris burni

A pair of Cadlinella ornatissima

Thordisa tahala - yellow colour form

Thordisa tahala - brown colour form

Thordisa tahala

Thordisa tahala

Thordisa tahala - together