Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Species List: 03-09-2016, La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

26 species sighted at La Balsa Park, Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast.

Julie, Terry, Gary & David on this single shore entry dive of 105 minutes. Maximum depth 5.9 m, 21 C water temperature and 5 m viz.

A good haul for the river with 26 species of which exactly half are aeolids. Trinchesia sp. 17 is an uncommon species that seems to turn up every couple of years - first time in the river though. We also recorded a juvenile dorid that we are unable to match at this stage.

Number of species sighted
* Species with highest specimen count.

Bulbaeolidia alba  -8
Cratena lineata  -2
Cratena simba  -2
Facelina bourailli  -3
Flabellina angelvaldesi  -36
Flabellina rubrolineata  -2
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus  -2
Goniobranchus daphne  -8
Goniobranchus decorus  -2
Goniobranchus reticulatus  -1
Goniobranchus splendidus  -2
Goniodoridella savignyi  -4
* Goniodoridella sp. 1 -92
Gymnodoris sp. 10  -1
Hypselodoris obscura  -5
Phyllodesmium opalescens  -4
Plakobranchus sp. 1  -1
Pleurobranchus peronii  -2
Pleurobranchus weberi  -2
Pteraeolidia semperi  -12
Trinchesia sibogae  -1
Trinchesia sp. 17  -1
Trinchesia sp. 23  -6
Trinchesia sp. 24  -1
Trinchesia yamasui  -1
Unidentified dorid -1 (New species?)

Trinchesia sp. 24

Trinchesia yamasui

Plakobranchus sp. 1

Bulbaeolidia alba

Facelina bourailli

Rocky substrate

Goniobranchus decorus 

The site

Goniobranchus reticulatus

Pteraeolidia semperi

Goniodoridella sp. 1

Goniobranchus decorus - disrupted
mantle lines

Flabellina angelvaldesi

Goniodoridella savignyi

Flabellina rubrolineata

Pleurobranchus weberi - mating pair
(head to head)

Goniobranchus daphne

Gymnodoris sp. 10

Goniobranchus aureopurpureus

Goniobranchus splendidus

Channel beacon pole

Pleurobranchus peronii - unusual form

Hypselodoris obscura

Cratena lineata

Phyllodesmium opalescens 

Trinchesia sibogae

Trinchesia sp. 17

Trinchesia sp. 23

Unidentified juvenile dorid