What
Scaly Small Star (Bellastraea squamifera)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
I'm not sure what the little thing with a crustose red algae "cap " (and some apparent radial symmetry). is, but I suppose a small thorny oyster is a possibility. I didn't really check it out properly, just took a quick photo and moved on.
[Subject is below centre in frame].
What
Australian Horse Conch (Australaria australasia)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
As a hermit crab's home, in a large sponge.
What
Green Coral (Plesiastrea versipora)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Via snorkel, near jetty cutwater. Some dead, some alive.
What
Mauve-mouth Ascidian (Herdmania grandis)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Younger example, early in this 2-3 hour dive.
What
Demosponges (Class Demospongiae)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Typical of the outer old jetty benthic habitat.
What
Overgrowing Tunicates (Family Didemnidae)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
This particular colony was so strikingly blue that I think I imaged it on several of my 6 dives on this jetty over this LWE.
What
Silver Drummer (Kyphosus sydneyanus)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
The main school midframe, which are small to medium sized adults.
Photos / Sounds
What
Zebrafish (Girella zebra)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Adults under outer jetty.
What
Green Solitary Coral (Homophyllia australis)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Cropped version (Bottom L corner of my preceding 2 submissions).
What
Short-tailed Ceratosoma (Ceratosoma brevicaudatum)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Subject is the slug on RHS.
What
Polycarpa viridisObserver
davemmdaveDescription
The cream to white solitary ascidians. (See next submission for the nudibranch using same image).
What
Magpie Perch (Pseudogoniistius nigripes)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Subject is an older juvenile well to L of centre but poorly illuminated. The main value of this image is that it shows some typical habitat towards the outer jetty end, with numerous invertebrates.
Including a large Sabellastarte fanworm on R,and perhaps a few echinoderms,but the dominant (sessile mostly) lifeforms are ascidians and sponges, followed by bryozoans,molluscs,et al.
Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Yes, regardless of exact taxon, this was an ubiquitous compound ascidian under and near this jetty.
What
Polycarpa viridisObserver
davemmdaveDescription
The white or cream solitary ascidians (an exceedingly common species here).
What
Tasmanian Clingfish (Aspasmogaster tasmaniensis)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Under turned jetty junk.( I think the blob above it is a lesser bluering octopus, BTW).
What
Dusky Morwong (Dactylophora nigricans)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Several smaller adults foraging amongst typical shoreline terrain between beach and jetty. Snorkel.
What
Giant Chiton (Plaxiphora albida)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
The subject is in upper frame and is a single chiton reflected in the water surface. As noted in my preceding observation from this snorkel, the chiton in lower frame is more rounded/hunched, but it may still be the same taxon, I just don't know..
What
Chitons (Class Polyplacophora)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Possibly a Giant Chiton but somehow it looked different (and FWIW the next submission from this snorkel shows a more typical Giant Chiton, which was only about 30-40cm above the present subject). Jetty cutwater v snkl.
What
Red Rock Crab (Guinusia chabrus)Observer
davemmdaveDescription
Small one at centre. Jetty cutwater. Common here as usual.
What
Genus SabellastarteObserver
davemmdaveDescription
Probably the native fanworm (a smallish example; for size comparison there is a Tosia australis sea star immediately below it) rather than a Mediterranean one. Cutwater of the jetty. Subject is at centre. Tide in early incoming phase. Snorkel.