COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

The trip up the Pumicestone Passage from boat ramp to bar was taken with care as most of the beacons have recently been replaced with buoys and in different positions. The bar crossing seems to have shifted south a little but we crossed both ways without incident. Yesterday’s great conditions and excellent visibility on the Gneerings were duplicated here today. A satisfying species count was compiled. It was a Sagaminopteron ornatum kinda-day with mostly small specimens wherever we looked. Tambja morosa was an uncommon find. Nearly all of the Bornella anguilla seemed to be preferring to feed upon the finer looking Pennaria sp. hydroids rather than the coarser Aglaophenia sp. hydroids. A Chromodoris elisabethina specimen was photographed with many more longitudinal black lines on its dorsum than usual.

Taxonomic Diversity:
22 of the 31 species sighted were dorids (just over 2/3 the total) comprising 5 x phanerobranchs, 4 x porostomes (all belonging to Phyllidiidae) and 12 x cryptobranchs (all belonging to Chromodorididae). The other 9 species comprised 3 x aeolids, 1 x dendronotid, 1 x arminid, 3 x cephalaspidean and 1 x umbrella-shelled sea slug. If diet is considered then 21 of the 31 species sighted are spongivores.

Our Historical Data:
– This excursion brings the survey number to 108 at this site since 30/10/2011
– Last surveyed on 08/06/2021
– 218 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: 31

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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