COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

The Caloundra Bar was easily navigated as we headed over on a return visit up to Nudi 2 on Currimundi Reef with the intention and the hope of recording the sap-sucking Oxynoe on the Caulpera that were briefly sighted last visit there, almost a fortnight ago. Whilst no success was achieved with that aim we were rewarded with a new species to our list – Elysia sp. 33 also on the Caulerpa. This species is is one of the few that holds its parapodia open widely. Goniobranchus fidelis was sighted again and a pleasant find was Goniobranchus coi as was Babakina indopacifica. The number of Doriprismatica atromarginata recorded was again very high and Chromodoris elisabethina, Chromodoris kuiteri and Hypselodoris jacksoni were present in double digits.

Taxonomic Diversity:
Of the 30 sea slugs sighted that belong to the Order Nudibranchia, 24 were dorids, comprising 16 cryptobranchs (retractable gill), being 2/3rds of the dorids, (15 from the Chromodorididae Family) 3 x phanerobranch (non-retractile gill) and 5 were porostomes (suctorial feeders and all Phyllidiidae Family). The other 6 nudibranchs were cladobranchs – 2 x aeolids, 3 x arminids and 1 x dendronotid. The remaining 2 sea slugs were 1 x Sacoglossa & 1 x Cephalaspidea. The nudibranchs dominate the overall sea slug count with the dorids representing 80% of the nudibranchs. The Chromodorididae Family alone comprises almost half the overall species count. If diet is considered 24 of the 32 species, three-quarters the total, are spongivores

Our Historical Data:
– We have now completed 24 survey dives at Nudi 2 since our first on 9/09/2012
– We have recorded 111 species at this site.
– The four most common species we record here are Doriprismatica atromarginata (88%), Phyllidiella pustulosa (88%), Chromodoris kuiteri (79%), and Sagaminopteron ornatum (79%);
– Elysia sp. 33 is a new record for us on the Sunshine Coast.
– This is the first time we have recorded Goniobranchus coi at this site.
– This site last surveyed on 06/11/2021

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

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 32

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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