A small clump of brown algae (Phaeophyceae) with flat dark lower branches and twisted paler tips.
Spotted on a tidal zone - Balnarring beach ( Westernport Bay).
My thanks to Janine Baker for identifying the genus. Possibly Z.spiralis
A brown algae with a thallus (body) with multiple holes of varying sizes. The algae is said to be about 10 cm in diameter. But in the one that was washed ashore it was a loose mesh like a woolen hair net. The whole mass was compressible and soft.
Found on the inter-tidal zone off Western Port Bay (Balnarring Beach). They are said to grow in the tidal zone.
'Hydro' = water, 'Clathrus' = mesh
This species forms dense mats.
A dense clump of pale orange seaweed (red algae) with oak-leaf shaped fronds/thalli.
Washed-up onto the beach off Westernport Bay (Balnarring Beach).
This species gets it's name "quercifolia" fro the oak-shaped fronds.
It is reported that this is a common and distinctive species found in deep waters in the rough-water coasts of southern Australia.
My thanks to Janine Baker for the ID.
David Francis
Thuretia quercifolia added. I was surprised to discover that the Red Algae are separated from the Green and Brown Algae at the Kingdom level!
This sea slug would have been about 5 " in length. It had mottling of cream and brown. The ear-like sensory clubs or rhinophores and oral tentacle were withdrawn and the usually extended side flaps called parapodia were flipped back. The mantle and atrophied shell could be seen (pic 5) as a reddish radiating structure.
I have the expert Mattt Nimbs to thank for the ID. He says "Definitely Aplysia. And yes probably A sydneyensis, there is a wheel like pattern of radiating stripes on the mantle that sits over the vestigial shell: a distinguishing characteristic of sydneyensis"
Tweet
Star Comment Share
David Francis Xanthopimpla spp. species id suggested
• 26 Feb 2018
David Francis Great photo!
• 26 Feb 2018