COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Near perfect surface conditions greeted us as we nosed out of the Mooloolah River on the way to our destination on the Outer Gneering Shoals. There were sets of swells but nothing to create uncomfortable conditions. Excellent visibility provided a good vista across the substrate as we searched the gutters, plateaus and bluffs that comprise this site. Thorunna daniellae and Hypselodoris lacuna were nice finds not having been sighted for some time. Six Chromodoris species and also six Hypselodoris species were recorded. Gymnodoris sp. 10, Hypselodoris lacuna, Chromodoris sp. 5, Chromodoris strigata and  Goniodoridella savignyi are rare sightings at this site. Okenia hallucigenia is not a commonly sighted species either however, our previous two visits here also recorded it. A new species to our Sunshine Coast list – Discodorid sp. 2 – was located under an old coral plate. Refer to its Species Profile page for a description.

Taxonomic Diversity:
28 of the 33 species sighted were dorids (85% of the total) comprising 5 x phanerobranchs, 4 x porostomes (all belonging to Phyllidiidae) and 19 x cryptobranchs (all but one belonging to Chromodorididae). The other 5 species comprised: 1 x dendronotid, 1 x arminid, 1 x cephalaspidean and 2 x sacoglossan sea slugs. No aeolids were recorded. If diet is considered then 25 of the 33 species sighted are spongivores.

Our Historical Data:
– This excursion brings the survey number to 53 at this site since 05/01/2011
– Last surveyed on 27/03/2021
– 171 species have been recorded here

Key to symbols
+++ New Species
+ First time sighted at this site
# Most commonly sighted at this site with %

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 33

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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