COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Once again the ramp traffic was light – no delay. Our trip out was slow at about 10 knots due to the head-on swell and surface chop from the windy conditions of the past few days. The forecast predicted a drop in both by mid-morning – allowing us a fast 30 knot trip home. Despite the fact that we had virtually no current to contend with, the surge although not strong, certainly impacts photography. The desired image can be recorded …. eventually, but the patience to achieve that cuts down on overall search time and the resulting species count.

The pair of Goniobranchus sp. 08 were still there. An impressive specimen of the rarely sighted, undescribed  Ardeadoris sp. 01 was recorded.

Taxonomic Diversity:
Nineteen of the twenty-one sighted species were nudibranchs, with 17 being dorids comprising 1 x phanerobranchs (non-retractile gill), 4 x porostomes (suctorial feeders – all of the Phyllidiidae family), 12 x cryptobranchs (retractable gill – 11 belonging to the Chromodorididae family) and 2 were cladobranchs comprising 1 x aeolid, 1 x arminid and 0 x dendronotinids. A single sacoglossan (sap-suckers) and 1 x cephalspidean (headshield slugs) complete the species count. If diet is considered then 16 of the 21 species sighted are spongivores. More than 37 specimens in total were recorded.

Our Historical Data:
– This excursion brings the number of survey dives to 36 at Wobby Rock since we commenced fully recording data here on 23/10/2010.
– 125 species have been recorded at this site.*
– Four of the species recorded on this survey were recorded for the first time at this site. These are: Ardeadoris sp. 01 (and this is only the 3rd sighting ever by us since the 1st sighting in 2010), Dermatobranchus sp. 08, Diversidoris aurantionodulosa,  and Gymnodoris sp. 10;
– In addition, this is only the second time 4 of the species – Diversidoris flava, Glossodoris sp. 04, Phyllidia exquisita, and Phyllidia ocellata have been recorded by us at this site.
– Our most commonly recorded species at Wobby Rock are Thuridilla cf. splendens (81%), Doriprismatica atromarginata (78%), Phyllidiella pustulosa (78%)*, and Chromodoris elisabethina (58%).
– The most abundant species recorded on our surveys here are Thuridilla cf. splendens (1.9/dive), Doriprismatica atromarginata (1.9/dive), Chromodoris elisabethina (1.4/dive), and Phyllidiella pustulosa (1.4/dive)*.
– Our last survey at Wobby Rock was on 05/01/2026.
* NOTE: The discrepancies in the total number of recorded species at the site and the prevalence and abundance data between this and the previous survey at this site is a result of our slowly reclassifying some the of the species previously recorded as Phyllidiella pustulosa.(Historical data courtesy of Terry Farr, who extracts it from his comprehensive database.)

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

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 21

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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