June 8, 2018
Sunfish sightings in the Encounter Bay/Waitpinga Cliffs area (Updated)
Our Waitpinga correspondent, Elizabeth Steele-Collins recently reported the sighting of three sunfish (Mola) in the “Encounter Bay/Waitpinga Cliffs area” in one week. We heard that the three sightings involved “at least two different individuals (owing to size differences)”. Elizabeth has now clarified the matter as follows: – “I personally only sighted the 1 Sunfish from Waitpinga Cliffs (6th June 2018)... Read morePosted in Bony fishes | By Steve Reynolds
May 26, 2018
Fletcher’s Slip
We were recently approached about taking a look at the Fletcher’s Slip site at Birkenhead, so I am reviewing the topic of the slip here below: – Fletcher’s Slip was located on the north bank of Gawler Reach on the Port Adelaide River at Birkenhead. It was the first slipway to be established at Birkenhead. It was built by Henry... Read morePosted in Maritime History | By Steve Reynolds
May 15, 2018
More About The ‘Edithburgh Anchor’
Steve Simmons has now sent us some further details regarding the anchor newly discovered at the Edithburgh swimming pool: – “Hi Steve, just a follow up on the anchor, I’ve now placed a guideline from one of the old sea net pylons all the way to the anchor about 200m. The Edithburgh swimming pool (Photo taken by Steve Simmons) Of... Read morePosted in Maritime History | By Steve Reynolds
May 14, 2018
Sprouting Sand Sponges
Our participation in iNaturalist has created some discussion that has almost cleared up an enduring mystery about the identification of this creature: – Image No.2555 from MLSSA Photo Index (Taken by David Muirhead) It has been some 11 years since my article titled Sponges of the Genus Ciocalypta was published in our May 2007 newsletter. In that article, I wrote... Read morePosted in Marine invertebrates | By Steve Reynolds
May 8, 2018
More Tropical Fish Cleaners
I recently came across this photo of a sunfish (Mola) at Nusa Lambongan, apparently being cleaned by bannerfish (Heniochus) posted by PT Hirschfield of Pink Tank Scuba on her Facebook page. Heniochus banner fish cleaning a sunfish (Image supplied PT Hirschfield / Pink Tank Scuba) The apparent cleaning of the sunfish by the bannerfish caught my eye. The situation is... Read morePosted in Bony fishes | By Steve Reynolds
May 7, 2018
More About the Star of Greece Anchor at Semaphore Jetty
Just in case you miss it, I have now updated my article Some Anchor Stories after locating this old photo of the Sea Captains’ Memorial at Semaphore: – The Star of Greece anchor mounted on a large brick wall (Taken by Steve Reynolds) This photo shows the original site of the Captains’ Memorial between the Semaphore jetty and the Palais building. There was... Read morePosted in Jetties, Maritime History, Shipwrecks | By Steve Reynolds
May 3, 2018
Tropical Stromb found on Largs Bay Beach
Steriyoula Thethes recently posted some photos of a couple of shells from Largs Bay beach on the SA Natureteers Facebook page, as follows: – (Photos courtesy of Steriyoula Thethes) “A new species of shell, Largs bay. And the last image of a shell that is becoming more common in the same area of Largs North”, said Steriyoula. There were a... Read morePosted in Marine invertebrates, Molluscs | By Steve Reynolds
April 22, 2018
The discovery of tiny Upside-down Jellyfish, Cassiopea ndrosia, in West Lakes
As a result of my first discovery of Upside-down Jellyfish, Cassiopea ndrosia, in December 2016 (The Upside-down Jellyfish, Cassiopea ndrosia ), I was able to recognize the species occurring in the hundreds when I dived in West Lakes in March 2018. I first saw a single tiny specimen: – I moved in to take a closer look: – A little... Read morePosted in Cnidaria, Marine invertebrates | By Steve Reynolds
April 4, 2018
The Removal of Shark Parasites
I recently saw some film footage on an episode of David Attenborough’s “Blue Planet II” showing several silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, seemingly scraping parasites off of a whale shark, Rhincodon typus. It occurred to me that this was a form of fish cleaning to add to my growing list. I found confirmation of what I had seen on “Blue Planet... Read morePosted in Bony fishes, Sharks & Rays | By Steve Reynolds
April 4, 2018
The Lifespan and Maximum Length of Grey Nurse Sharks
According to the Facebook posting at https://www.facebook.com/FisheriesWA/photos/a.264218617326814.1073741827.246412385774104/486516945096979/?type=3&theater , a tagged 2.5 metre grey nurse shark, Carcharias taurus, caught by a recreational fisher in WA had been caught and released by Fisheries scientists 23 years earlier. Back in 1995, the shark was nearly 1.9 metres long and it was estimated to be four years old. This would mean that the shark... Read morePosted in Sharks & Rays | By Steve Reynolds
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