COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS

Our run of good weather has continued. We crossed the Caloundra Bar with ease and headed up to Currimundi Reef. Excellent visibility, negligible surge plus an additional surveyor created circumstances for a high species count. Doto rosacea, that we recorded at Mudjimba Island two days ago, and after a long period of being unsighted, was found here as well. Glossodoris sp. 5, Ceratosoma tenue, Babakina indopacifica and Madrella ferruginosa were all exciting, not-so-common finds, and in fact, Doto rosacea, Glossodoris sp. 5, and Thuridilla carlsoni have only been sighted here once before. Although not finding any new species to add to the Sunshine Coast list the finding of so many that are not-so-common makes the excursion most interesting. Also, recording as many species on the second dive as the first is remarkable enough to comment upon, considering it was a much shorter dive.

Taxonomic Diversity:
29 of the 38 species sighted were dorids (just over 3/4 the total) comprising 4 x phanerobranchs, 8 x porostomes (all belonging to Phyllidiidae) and 17 x cryptobranchs (all belonging to Chromodorididae). The other 9 species comprised 2 x aeolids, 2 x dendronotids, 2 x arminids, 1 x cephalaspidean, 1 x sacoglossan and 1 x umbrella-shelled sea slug. If diet is considered then 29 of the 38 species sighted are spongivores.

Our Historical Data:
– This excursion brings the survey number to 21 at this site since 09/09/2012
– Last surveyed on 13/06/2021
– 105 species have been recorded here
– As well as a high species count for the excursion the data show that the total number of specimens is the highest recorded on a survey at this site, at 94 on the first dive.

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

TOTAL SPECIES SIGHTED: 38

DIVE IMAGES GALLERY

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