My first thought was gastropod but then I remembered otoliths. The latter is possible from what I can see online but I don't think the spiral growth rings fit.
Anyone? ... @rfoster , @ben_travaglini, @mtank, @marinejanine, @streglystendec
My first thought was gastropod but then I remembered otoliths. The latter is possible from what I can see online but I don't think the spiral growth rings fit.
Anyone? ... @rfoster , @ben_travaglini, @mtank, @marinejanine, @streglystendec
At centre in 1st image. Same individual in subsequent images.
Collected under permit yesterday afternoon by hand during shallow intertidal snorkel in rock channel at Cape Jervis. Underwater photos of it as found crawling on fucoid brown algae have been added and were taken in natural light [This housed camera's flash often fires but does NOT illuminate subjects, unless I attach external strobe(s) which I didn't do on this snorkel] .
NB: I rarely collect invertebrates under permit, usually fish (and not nearly as often as I could given the opportunities that so often present ie small benthic fish which I don't recognize taxonomically with any confidence).
This slug is one I've never seen before, as far as I'm aware. I certainly don't have any images of one like this although it could be a colour morph of a described, even common taxon.
At first glance I thought it was a small dull blue to purple sponge aligned along the algal axis but I soon realized it was mobile, with gills at rear and rhinophores at front. I saw no sponges resembling it on this snorkel but it reminds me of a common type of sponge (possibly Callyspongia ) we often see at numerous locations in South Australia including the immediate vicinity albeit usually in the subtidal not intertidal.
Tide was incoming during the snorkel. I searched carefully for any other nudibranchs of similar appearance, to no avail.
Basket stars were sighted on gorgonians in two locations along the KI coast.
Approximately 8m depth.
Found in a dead native oyster shell, in ECF oyster basket.
Thanks to Steve & Dan for identifying as Godiva quadricolor