Pictures and branchs March 2014

Pictures of the month:

1. Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella)

2. Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)

3. In full swing (Azure Kingfisher, Alcedo azurea)

4. Prince charming (could be Limnodynastes salmini, Salmon-striped Frog)

Branchs of the month:

1. Jorunna ramicola

2. Umbraculum umbraculum

3. Aplysia argus

4. Gymnodoris amakusana

Analogy of amakusana and striata (Gymnodoris amakusana)

Indetectable (Jorunna ramicola)

On a lookout (Azure Kingfisher, Alcedo azurea)

Smooth pincers

Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)

Probably a juvenile Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)

Neochmia temporalis (Red-browed Finch)

Where is breakfast?

Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella)

Prince charming (could be Limnodynastes salmini, Salmon-striped Frog)

In full swing (Azure Kingfisher, Alcedo azurea)

Big branch

This is technically a bad photo. Just thought I might pay tribute to the first branch that I have seen at the Seaway. I was taken by its beauty. Someone IDed it as a Rose petal bubble shell back then. Hydatina physis is one of the most common branchs at the Gold Coast Seaway.

Big and bending (Cuthona yamasui)

Substrate

Goniobranchus geometricus

This picture is exciting for me for three reasons. Firstly, it was only the second branch species for that dive, found after about 150 minutes, shortly before I exited the water. Secondly, it shows the mouth region clearly. And thirdly, this branch is only about 3-4mm (a tenth of an inch). This species can grow and is normally found at a size of more than ten times that.
Additionally, I am happy with the quality of the photo: despite its small size, details of the animal are still visible with beautiful growth next to it. The branch was posing on top of a rock on a slope. That means that I had more freedom to compose the photo than usual.