COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Julie was unable to join me on this dive and I badly missed her company and keen eyesight, as evidenced by the low species count. The conditions were great for the morning dive and there was plenty of interesting reef life to occupy my attention in between heterobranch sightings. Species of Elysia have been a regular sighting in the area however they were notable by their absence on this dive.

Taxonomic Diversity:
All of the six sighted species were nudibranchs, with 5 being dorids comprising 2 x phanerobranchs (non-retractile gill), 1 x porostome (suctorial feeders  of the Phyllidiidae family), 2 x cryptobranch (retractable gill) and 1 x cladobranch comprising 1 x aeolid, 0 x arminid and 0 x dendronotinids. No species of the other heterobranch orders were sighted. If diet is considered then only 3 of the 6 species sighted were spongivores.

Our Historical data:
– We have now completed 8 survey dives at this site since our first survey here on 21/11/2022.
– We have now recorded 38 species at this site.
– This is the first occasion on which we have recorded Tenellia sp. 29 in the Whitsundays.
– This is the first occasion on which we have recorded Gymnodoris sp. 10, Gymnodoris sp. 33, Hypselodoris tryoni or Phyllidiella sp. b at this site.
– So five out of the six species recorded on this dive are new recordings for the site.
– Our last survey at this site was on 17/07/2024

Guide to Symbols:
+++ New Species
+ First time sighted in Whitsundays
# Most commonly sighted at this site with %

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 6

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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