DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2025 ISSUE 410

Above: Left: Philinopsis orientalis is dark with dense white spotting. There is a distinctive transverse white bar at the posterior end of the headshield that lines up with similar bars on the parapodia. These are raised with a central yellow spot and edged in light blue/green. Similar bars are located at the anterior of the headshield lining up with the anterior of the parapodia. There is another Y-shaped bar on the posterior of the posterior shield that runs longitudinally before flaring out onto the dorsal edge of the caudal lobes. Right: Most likely a variation of Philinopsis orientalis being similar in nearly every respect apart from its very light watery-orange colouration.

Above: Philinopsis falciphallus is a distinctive species in having its posterior shield terminated into a long conical blunt ended papilla that is carried elevated from the body. Its colouration is also distinctive, being gaudy with magenta to pink base colour with darker margins and numerous bright yellow/orange spots. Usually sighted when out hunting at night.

Above: Philinopsis gigliolii is another variable species with a range of colouration. The small lateral outgrowths of the anterior edge of the foot are observable in the above image. Philinopsis taronga has recently been synonymised with Philinopsis gigliolii . It has also been shown to be a good and separate species from Philinopsis speciosa .

Above: Three examples of the Niparaya genus. The members of this genus are all small usually less than 5 mm and possess a large triangular headshield with the posterior apex often held erect. They hunt in and out through the growth on the substrate, burrowing from time to time. From Left to Right: Niparaya sp. 12 black with white markings and orange stripes; Niparaya sp. 02 translucent with spots of opaque white pigment, black spots to the low parapodia; Niparaya sp. 13 translucent brown/orange with spots of opaque white pigment and yellow spots to border of headshield and on caudal lobes.

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DIVE LOG Australasia #410 - February‘25

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