A nudi-tastic weekend of diving!

Chromodoris aureomarginata (Gold-edged chromodoris)

A weekend of hunting nudibranchs at the Poor Knights Islands (New Zealand) that was so successful it was worth making a list of all the species encountered!

I did 5 scuba dives, including a night dive, for 368 minutes in the water on 16th and 17th November 2019.

Dive sites:
- Northern Arch
- Blue Maomao Arch
- Blue Maomao Arch (night dive)
- Eastern Arch
- Barren Arch

I've put the common name of the nudibranch in brackets because I know some people will find that name more recognisable.

Nudibranchs:

1. Aphelodoris luctuosa (Common nudibranch or Variable nudibranch)
2. Cadlina willani (Willan's cadlina)
3. Caldukia rubiginosa (Ruby caldukia)
4. Ceratosoma amoenum (Clown nudibranch)
5. Chromodoris aureomarginata (Gold-edged chromodoris)
6. Cuthona cf. scintillans
7. Dendrodoris citrina (Lemon dendrodoris)
8. Dendrodoris krusensternii (Gem nudibranch)
9. Eubranchus sp., undescribed
10. Flabellina albomarginata (White-margined flabellina)
11. Janolus ignis (Red janolus)
12. Okenia mija (Speckled okenia)
13. Polycera maddoxi
14. Tambja tenuilineata, including mustard-coloured variant (Fine-lined tambja)
15. Trapania brunnea (Brown trapania)
16. Trapania sp., undescribed - *NEW*
17. Trinchesia sp., undescribed: yellow-tipped cerata with navy/purple highlight and cream speckles, brown rhinophores
18. Trinchesia sp., undescribed: dark green cerata with cream stripes, pale body has cream stripes
19. Cadlina sp., undescribed - seen by Jacqui Robson
20. Jason mirabilis (Jason's nudibranch) - seen by Jacqui Robson
21. Tambja morosa (Morose tambja) - seen by Jacqui Robson
22. Tularia bractea, green variant (Metallic tularia) - seen by Shane Housham

Other sea slugs:
​

1. Elysia sp. (Blue-spotted elysia)

Left to right: Ceratosoma amoenum (Clown nudibranch), Trapania brunnea (Brown trapania)