26-V-81
Departed Carnarvon about 9am after picking up gear at Fisheries office, buying few goods in town, visiting Margaret Winchcombe (L. & I) & buying fruit at plantation. [...] Arrived Tantabiddy about 1530hrs. Dick & Audrey (Mobile Ranger) in residence [...]
27-V-81
Woke early 04.30. Rangers' radio on before(?) 0600 - up about 0700. Set off about 1000-1030 hrs after assembling gear etc. (Bob Taylor - permanent ranger - called in). We took two boats (Zodiac & Brooker) S to reef off Mangrove Bay searching for bare patch with bombie in centre (N of Mangrove Bay) which shows up so clearly on colour aerial photos. Couldn't find it - went further S to place where similar areas join together, set up station. 
#1. weed beds containing patches of reef of variable size & height above sandy substrate - some with bedrock barely breaking surface, others wih rock to 50cm above surface; each with bare area surrounding it - some connecting with circular areas of other systems. the weed beds were markedly uniform - of Caulerpa ____ interspersed with sponge, all growing on & in sand. At the outer edge of the bare patches there was relatively moreHalophila interspersed with the Caulerpa than over the gneral expanse of the weed bed. The bed rock outcrops were covered with algae & caelenterates[?] & few sponges & v. few diademnid ascidians. They seemed to give shelter to a variety of fish which were possibly the cause of the bare patches aurrounding. The bare patches were of variable "bareness" - some with scattered fucoids & other leafy algae where the bedrock came close to the sand surface. I sampled 2 areas - one with a low bedrock exposure & predominantly algal cover & the other of higher rock with many anemones with anemone fish & Xenia patches. I shall treat these areas together, giving range of variation in zones observed.
#1A - "Bombie" in centre of bare patch. Cover 50-100% in sand. Plants - 70-50% c sponges - anemones & Xenia. Angiosperms 0. Crustose Corallines 10%. Brown leafy algae 90-60%; Fucoids 50-100 Sargassum; Prostrate 10-0 (Padina) flat edge; Short laminate 40-0 (Dictyota) 2 spp. Red leafy algae >5-40; Jointed corallines 0; Soft forms 0 turf/filamentous; 100 Laurencia?. Green Algae <5; Siphonales 100; 100 Caulerpa 2 spp - Tabulate v. - small grapes.
#1B - Bare area around "bombies". Cover 40-20% in sand. Plants 90%-100 with sponges. Angiosperms 0-50 (Halophila). Crustose Corallines 0. Brown algae 50-<60; Fucoids 90-40 Caulocystis Sargassum; Short laminates 10-60 Dictyota. Red algae 10-; Jointed corrallines 0; Fil/turf 0; Leafy reds 100 Laurencia (brittle). Green algae 40-0 Caulerpa (tails) strands.
#1C - general weed beds - 5cm high. Cover >80% in sand. Plants 60% with sponges. Angiosperms 0-<5. Crustose corallines 0. Green Algae >90; >95 Siphonales Caulerpa "tails"; >5 Penecillus. Red algae <10; Jointed corallines 0; turf/fil 10; Leafy reds 90 ?Galaxias? - stiff prickly - epiphytic on sponge.
Molluscs - Epifaunal: on rock and weed; Angaria delphinus, Turbo argyrostomus, Stomatia, Cypraea evosa, Phasianella live, Cantharus undosus, Muricia, ?Cantharidus tall live, Pyrene live, Liotia live, Euplica, trochid squat, Chiton live. Molluscs - infaunal: Fragium fragum live, Codakia, Acrosterigma, Solemya, Macoma - obl. sculpture both valves elongate - pink bands &? rays., Tellina (2) - deep - obl. sculpture on RV internal rib, Tellina (3) cone ribs, Epicodakia bella, lucinid, tellina (4) - short & deep - ribbed - laterals, tellin 5 ?Pinguitellina, Aulicina nivosa oblita, Amaria grayi, Volute fragment, Strombus mutabilis - live, Conus pulicarius - spotted, Conus sp. white c purple lip, Tonna chinensis, Amaria damoni, Mallea pomum, Cerithium fasciatum (lines) check, Bulla (botanica type), Bulla ampulla, Pupa solidula, Naticid - small - umbreal pad - rows of brown streaks, Cerithiid - white c brown flecks -small, Fasciolariid - white -axially ribbed -conc. lirae, shelled opisthobranch -involute -spire recessed -pointed ends, Parcanassa - strong close axial ribs, Stomatella (9 mariae) papyrocea, Polinices sp cf pyriformis.
NYC#2:
#2. We then ernt along outer edge of channel to large bombie - or series of them - similar (or the same as) #B1 & B2 of 1980. Collected on the bombie & on the sand.
#2A: Bombie in 12' water rising to 5' below water level. Cover 100%. Plants 30% with coral. Angiosperms 0. Crustose Corallines 5%. Red Algae (leafy) >85%; Corallines 80% no of spp.; Soft Reds 100% - diverse selection of low growing but not turf or filementous spp. Brown algae 10%; prostrate 100% Padina. Green algae <5%; Boodlea Caulerpa (3 spp) Valonia (large) Halimeda.
Molluscs - Epifaunal: Tridacna ?squamosa- 18" -5? folds - blue & brown mantle, Tridacna maxima - dead, Pinctada margaritifera - live, Fasciolariid - Peristernia incarnata - brown & tan ribbed, Coralliophila violacea, infaunal? Cerithiid - strong axial ribs v. fine brown conc lines, Drupe (1) - white mouth -reddish - yellow spot posteriorly - green animal live, Drupe 2, Chama, Diala - dark lines, ?Fasciolariid? juv. - brown bands, Haliotus varia, bursid - fragment, Cypraea helvola, Pyrene turturina? (squat, strong), Cypraea sp. fragment, Septifer bilocularis, Bulla botanica type, Cypraea sp -small c spots on sides, Conus sp fragemtn, Mitre- brown short squat conc. ridged, Turbo argyrostoma, Haliotis fragment ?asinina juv., Cantharidus - squat -striped (frag), Elysia - floating in water column near to but not at surface, Atrina vexillum.
Infaunal: Strombus mutabilis, Cerithium fasciatum, Fragum fragum, Epicodakia bella, Cerithium - smallish -axial notched ribs - white brown flecks, tellin - strong - fragment-int rib anteriorly - obl. sculpt rt. valve, epifaunal Bulla ampulla, Mitrid - brown squat pale plaits.
28-V-81
After much trial & error we finally found a beach to the north of the Park from which we could launch the dinghy -track about 19km N of Tantabiddy Well (2.9km S of bend in road W of lighthouse & 5.9km S of turnoff to wreck) [sketch map).
#NWC 3:
Over reef edge at end of poorly marked channel - reef wall top at abt 3' - vertical - mobile coarse sand below - at about 25'. Cover 100%. 60% coral 40% plants. 0 Angiosperms. 30% crustose corallines. <100% Reds. 95% turf - grazed. 0 jointed corallines. 5% adherent semi-calcified thalli, or flat gelatinous perforated, or coarse stiff branched turgid, or fine & red branched - Gelidium?, (semi calcarean pinkish branches found on offshore bombie 15' below surface. - more water flow - more sand at abt 20' below surface - less coral) ? 1% green - Halimeda.
Molluscs- Epifaunal: Cantharidus lall, Chama, Arcid Arca avellana?, limid - fragile - white tents & plain red tent., Pinctada juv. (? albina) pale, ovulids om pale pink gorgonian (1 red & Prunovula cf coarctata 2 white), Septifer, Gloripallium falium, Chlamys pink c black bands, ?Annachlamys juv.!, Trapezium tricorinatum, Nudibranchs, Phyllidia - black, c large blue tubercles & yellow tips, Phyllidia - black & mauve- fine, yellow plastic, white & purple edge & orange rhinopharis & gills, Spondylus pale-white c brown spots, Spondylus - red rim, Isognomon - pale live, Hyotissa hyotis, Arca ?navicularis, Barbatia live, Cantharidus - tall, Cypraea helvola - live, Cyp. caputserpentis - live, Drupe - prickly - Morula uba b&w - live, Fasciolariid - orange c (live) - Latirulus turritus - brown conc. bands, Cypraea corneola - small, Cynatiid - Septa?, bursid - Colubrellina granularis, Coralliophila (long white), Turbo (?sp), Conus ?coronatus, Turbo agyrostoma, Tectus, Drupe - small brown c fine black conc. ribs, Pinctada margaritifera, Tridacna maxima, Bivalve - mantacutid - oval glassy - strong cardinal & 1 strong lateral, Conus - small white purple lip, Columbellid - high spire - brown axial blotches, Conus textile, Conus >nussatella but see dist'n w&e, Conus lividus, Conus rattus, Columbellid turturina, Mitra ticaonica - infaunal, Mitra sp (slender brown c pale band - conc pinctate striae) - infaunal, Mitra sp ax. ribs light brown & white squat - infaunal, Cypraea - worm[?] small, Euplica juv., 
Molluscs- Infaunal: Periglypta - orange teeth, ?Periglypta white teeth? - look again, Gomphina, Ventricolaria, Gafrarium, Fulvia, Fragum hemicardium, Petricola, Dosinia - fine close lamellae, Glycymeris, ?Tapes - look again!, Mitre squat brown sl[?] ribbed conc., Aulicina nivosa oblita, Terebrid - small0med. beige c white rib below suture bearing brown dots, Olives - small white fusiform, Terebrids - med size - beige c irregular brown axial hues & patches, but white below suture c regular brown axial lines, Oliva lignaria, Oliva sp see W&G :106, see mitre 2 pages back?, Strombus mutabilis, Terebrid - large fawn, st ribbed axially, groove & colour line on body whorl, Cerithiids - small slender - sl ribbed pale brown mottled.
Beach drift at Tantabiddy Well: Tectus architectaricus, Patella saccharina, Siphonaria black&white small, Siphonaria larger ribs grouped, Liotia peroni, Columbellid turturina, Antisabia foliacea, Fissurellid - hole at one end - narrow, Cantharidus - short, Nerita juv. cf albicilla, Naticid, Alectrion sp, Mitrid - small elongate ribbed, Ctena bella, Donax - Sepia elliptica, lunicid - small no teeth inflated, Cardita variegata, Irus ecylonicus[?] - Brachidontes cf ustulatus, Gomphina - ?Modiotus auriculatus, Venerid - small -zigzag.
NWC #4:
outer reef flat - coral area. We came back over reef edge & slightly N of #3 to an area where the coral was growing luxuriously at about 5' below surface with sandy patches at 6-8' -strong water flow. Cover 80% in sand; Coral 60% (with soft corals); Angiosperms ); Crustose corallines 30%; Reds >95%, jointed coraalines 0, turf 95%, other 5% Laurencia brittle; Greens <5% Halimeda.
Molluscs - Epifaunal: Tectus, Turbo argyrostomus, Scutus unguis, Drupes B&W prickly (M. uva?), Coralliophila costularis, Diodora cf singaporensis, Pyrene turturina, Acmeid v small - on molluscs - orange stripes, Peristernia incarnata, Acmaea - strong projecting ribs - saccharina?, Rapa (rough), Cypraea caputserpentis, Nassarius (?limnaeiformis), Conus ?3spp + lividus, Nudibranch Phyllidia - black c fine mauve tubercles, Nudibranch - Chromodoris lined form, Nudibranch aeolid - yellow cerata - small, Nudibranch 0 purple edges on white c orange gills & rhinophores, Isognomon large, Chama, Tridacna maxima, Pinctada margaritifera, limid - small fragile- pale orange tents, limid -large fragile - white & plain red tentacles, lamellariid - blackish with long black mantle tentacles (or cerata) except for about 3 whitish ones - siphon eye tentacles & food decide family placement - under coral slab, Montacutid -whitish -papillate mantle reflected over valves - v faint small range flecks (on tentacles?) when dead, Barbatia (Acar[?]) tenella, Carditid (cf variegata) spots, Septifer, Arcid cf Arca ventricosa, Chlamys, Pinctada huv. pale, Drupe (e. Drupella cornus) white, Cerithium sp (or infaunal?), Cypraea helvola, Drupe ? small fine black conc. ribs on beige or brown, Drupe (variation of M. uva) black axial ribs.
Infaunal: Aulicina nivosa oblita, Periglypta reticulata, P. resticulata, Codakia punctata, Ventricolaria torcinna, ?Corbula - strong wide ribs, Tellina (Tellinella) virgata, Scutarcopagia scobinata.
We then went a little further N along reef flat - possibly a little landwards as well to an area of weed beds - strong water flow, depth about 5'.
NWC#5:
Cover 70% in sand; Biota 100% plants; Angiosperms 0; Crustose corallines 0; Browns 70%, <5% low prostate - Padina (rolled edges), <1% higher forms Pockockiella, 95% Fucoids ->2', Sargassum 3spp?; Greens 10%, Halimeda 60%, Ulva 30%, Penecillus, Caulerpa 5% 2spp 3 cornered long grapes - long clubs, Valonia 5%, vv little semicalcareaus ligh green clubs (stacked discs); Reds 20%, 40% jointed corallines, epiphytes - mostly on Sargassum, 0 Turf/filamentous ferns[?], 100 leafy reds Laurencia etc.
Molluscs - Infaunal; Lambis chiragra, Bulla ampulla, Bulla cf vernicosa, Conus dorreensis, Mamilla opaca, Strombus vomei ?epifaunal, Strombus mutabilis? epifaunal, Conus - small white, Mactra sp. - white deep, Periglypta ?teeth colour?, Acrosterigma, Epicodakia bella (or Ctena)
Epifaunal: Conus clarus (as in W&G) (?neilsonae), Cypraea helvola, Conus lividus, Cheilea equestris, Angaria delphinus, Pseudostomatella papyracea, Cerithiacean - small squat, Cerithiacean - small slender, Trochus, Umboniid - fragile -smale umbilicus, Phasianella (Orthonesus? variegata), Hipponicid, Conus 2 spp (same as above?), Chiton smale pale, Spondylus juv pale pink c black patches - fine spines, Anamiid - fragile transplant - orange gonad, Trapezium bicarinatum, Septifer bilocularis, Carditid - spotted, Arca ventricosa, Carditid - irregular - elongate, Barbatia cf
Beach collection at 3 spots between Tantabiddy Ck & #5; Conus lividus, Siphonaria b&w small, Bulla ?vernicosa, Nerita plicata, Nerita smooth large, Panellid, Siphonaria large -brown flecks, Bulla ampulla, Malea ponum, Cypraea eglantina, Trivia, Manilla?opaca, Cypraea vitellus, Opisthobr. -orange shell, Cypraea erosa, Angaria delphinus, Nerita B+W albicilla, Cypraea caputserpentis, Oliva -large purple aperture, sp see W&G:106, Cypraea helvola, Conus - white -purple lip, Chiton, Acrosterigma, Tridacna maximus, Periglypta reticulata, Chama, Crenatula, Barbatia (Acar) tonella?, Spondylus -red rim, Saccostrea cuccullata, Trisides semitorta, Ventricolaria, Fragum fragum, Clena bella, Septifer, Trapezium bicarinatum, Cardita variegata, Cantharus undosus, Planaxis, Nassa francolina, Turbo argyrostoma, Cypraea annulus, Cypraea clandestina, Strombus mutabilis, Conus striatus, Casinaria ? erinacea, Sepia, Hipponix conicus, Antisabia foliocea, Fissurellid 2 spp, Mytellid 2 sp.
29-V-81
We tried to get in at tip of Cape - drove down to beach (c fringing reef) near wreck of Mildura -not possible - so went around to launching ramp (out of action, damaged by cyclone) near jetty (Restricted Entry - Commonwealth of Aust.) at Point Murat - launched boats from beach. Travelled south to reef off Bundegi.
NWC#6:
Coral reef sloping seawards off emergent reef parallel to coast. Cover 90% ->5% (outer edge depth 30'); Coral 70% (inshore more, offshore less % coral); Angiosperms 0l Crustose coralline 0-5; Reds >95, Jointed corallines 0-30, turf 100-20, leafy reds 0-80; Greens <5, Caulerpa 2 spp, Valonia, dark green balls.
Molluscs - Epifaunal: Nudibranch with bumps Halgerda, Nudibranch Chromodoris - v fine lines, Nudibranch white -transparent c orange spots, Tectus, Turbo argyrostomus, Coralliophila violacea, Cypraea tigris, Haliotis asinina, Emarginilid - fragile -large slit, Cypraea ?staphylaea -nodulid fragment, Phyllidia cf Fryeria ruppelli, Phyllidia -black c fine mauve tubercles, Haliotis varia, Phyllidia c blue patches & bright orange tubercles, Conus sp., Euplica juv., Cypraea helvola,  Conus sp. v large, Conus glans, Nassarius Alectrian glans, Cheilea equestris, Cronia juv., Turbo petholatus, Mancinella mancinella (orange), Chlamys !radula fragment, Spondylus sp white c bands of black patches, Barbatia fusca, Chlamys sp = distant primary ribs, v fine see ribs mottled colour pattern, limid - fragile -deep short flat ribbed (dead), Spondylus - large ++, Hyotissa hyotis (1 sp?), Ostrea folium (1 sp?), Isognomon white, Isognomon - large reddish -malleid shaped, Pinctada juv. -pale, Arca ventricosa, Septifer, Chlamys finebris, Limaria, Ostrea tuberculata, Chama +++, Tridacna maxima +, Chlamys vexillum ?, Placuna ribbed-pink, Limid - strong -like Acesta, Tellinid -rough- small- deep- growth ribs -rayed colour pattern - short, Chlamys -orange red.
Infaunal: Cerithium - strong ribs, Cerithium sinensis, Volute fragment, Ventricolaria lorcuma, Tapes - dark grey pattern, Dosinia - finely lamellose, Mactrid -elongate, Glycymeris - large, Acrosterigina alternatum, Mactra - ribbed -elongate -fine brown spots, ?Bivalve -elongate -strong brown periostraicum[?] -strong growth lines -fine irregular ax. ribs -? no teeth -Lithophagia?, Tellina !staurella, semelid -rostrate, Sanguinolariid, Venerid - fragment, ?Bivalve -rayed & ribbed, Venerid - small -pale-Pitarinae, Acrosterigina -small fine, Psammobiid -mottled -obl. sculpture, Dosinia - v fine ribs, ?Tapes sp, Periglypta ?white teeth.
We then came a little further north to where the reef was very dead - depth 4-5' though the proportion of live coral increased slightly with depth.
NWC#7:
Cover 95? with silty sand (less cover offshore but porportionally more live coral & less algae); Coral 40; Angiosperms 0; Crustose corallines 10; Reds 100, Jointed corallines 5, Turf 100
Molluscs - Epifaunal: Clanculus brown c black spots -small umbilicus; Drupe b&w prickly (Morula uva?); Cypraea vitellus; Turbo sp juv; Cypraea caputserpentis; Cypraea moneta; Cypraea helvola; Haliotis varia; Coraliophila costalaris; Halgerda sp cf graphica -Basidaus & Hedley; Pseudostomatella papyracea, Nudibranch?, Tectus, V small cerithiceans &/or rissoaceans; Haliotus sp. axial ribs, fine or nodular; unboniid -fragile, open umbilicus; Trivia (Ellatrivia) oryza; Modulus tectus; muricid ? brown conc. ribs cf Vexilla vexillum; Tridacna maxima +++; Chama ++; Pinctada sp juv (? vulgaris); Chlamys finebris; Pinctada margaritifera; Barbatia fusca; Lima ? lima (see Iredales' name); Barbatia (Acar) tenella; Arcid
Infaunal: Rhinoclavis bituberculatum; R. sinensis; Acrostergina alternum; Periglypta; Ventricolaria toruema; Tellina ?staurella.
beach collection near wreck of Mildura, NW Cape:
Bivalves; Chama sp orange, red interior; Chama sp purple mauve; Spondylus sp. orange-purple lip; Tridacna maxima; Irus sp cf ceylonicus; Inf Ventricolaria toreuma; Hyotissa sp. white c purple, muscle scar, macularlians[?]; Inf Periglypta reticulata (orange teeth); Inf Vulsella spongiarum Lamarck; Modiolus auriculatus Krauss; Septifer bilocularis; Trapezium bicarinatum; Megacardita turgida Lamarck; Cardita variegata Bruguiere; Cardita ariculina Lam. 1819
Got caught in sand when leaving beach - helped out by a woman in a car - late getting home - cooked finner. During night rained & blew from SW - tent got flood though zipper but we didn't know till we got up in morning.
30-V-81
After coping with flooded tent & re-pitching tent to face N Louisette & Clay went off with George to Charles Knife Rd to collect echinoid fossils & land snails. Paddy & Richard went to Mangrove Bay & I stayed home to catch up on notes & identification. Paddy & Richard came back to camp for lunch. Alec & Marge Finlay called in. After lunch I went with Paddy & Richard to look in well being used by road workers N of Tantabiddy Well - collected weed & amphipods - couldn't see any molluscs. Then we went S to Mangrove Bay - to the fossil bed contained in an outcrop about 1/2 way along E side of mangal - Tantabiddy formation -fossils of many species now resent on reef flat coral areas eg Turbo agyrostoma, Periglypta, Ventricolaria, Cantharus, Tectus, but also species more typical of present sheltered water, sandy bottom areas eg cerithiids. On the top layer -inundated with terriginous sand grains were Planaxis & loose (?fossil) ellobiids - Melampus 2spp? lying free. Paddy caught a couple of crabs Sasarina sp - radiators on front & sides of cethalo-thorax. Wemt woth Paddy & Richard to Alec Finlay's bores - 2 blind gudgeons.
31-V-81
We all set off for Sandy Point S end of Sandy Bay - launched boats on small sandy beach between limestone "cliffs" (low) well S of Sandy Point. Went in boats to channel well S of Sandy Point where channel narrows.
NWC#8
W&E side of narrow channel in lagoon - steep drop off to 20-30 -v fine sand at base often sloping steeply.
(A) W side; Cover 100% on wall (with sand below silty - silt covered base of wall); Coral 50%; Angiosperms 0%; Coralline algae 90%; Greens 40%; 100 Halimeda -small very brittle segments -major contributes to sand; Browns 40%, Prostrate Padina? (smooth edge) (+1 clump large ?Padina) 5%, Short laminate Pockockiella 90%, Fucoids juv. Sargassum 5%; Reds 20%, Turf 90%, Semicalcarean prostrate 10%; V sparse Halophila - med sized leaves - below in sand near coral (ie sheltered)
Molluscs - Epifaunal: Cypraea caputserpentis; Cypraea helvola; Haliotis asinina; Tectus ++; Morula uva; Turbo agyrostoma +++; Cheilea equestris; Triton Lampusia nicofaricum eating large Tectus; Conus sp; Pyrene turturina; Coralliophila violacea; umboniid - fragile small open umbilicus; Cypraea ?ursellus, worn, but see distribution; Latirulus turritus; Cypraea sp fragment; Cypraea cribraria; Pyrene turturina juv.? -orange c brown spots; Euplica juv.; Mitrella sp.; Pinctada margaritifera; Plicatula; Tridacna maxima crushed?; Barbatia sp worn; Cardita variegata; Septifer.
Infaunal: Malea pomum; Strombus mutabilis; Alectrion pale mottled; Cerithiid - fairly large, 1 or 2 spp; ?turrid - small v finely conc. ribbed white c 3 pale brown bands on body whorl each bordered posteriorly by row of brown dots; cerithiid juv. small pale; mitre small brown, red strong conc. ribs, slender, faint axial ribs; Periglypta; Trapezium bicarinatum; Ctena bella; lucinid - no teeth - small globose; Senelid - fragment; Venerid - Pitarinae -brown pattern - rel. thin; Lucinid like Ctena bella but more elongate & finer ribs.
NWC#8
(B) E side of channel (narrow) & round corner into more sheltered embayment on N side - on wall; large colonies of coral; Cover (on wall) 95% (sand at base v fine & silty but not on corals on wall); Coral 80%; Angiosperms 0 (2 spp at base - fine & coarse Halophila); Crustose Corallines 70% (some (abt 20%) nodulose); Reds <100%, Jointed corallines 40%, filamentous 20%, Laurencia (brittle) 80%; Greens <5% [sketch] leathery.
Molluscs Epifaunal: Spanish dancer red & white; Turbo argyrostoma +++; Cypraea helvola; Haliotis asinina; Tectus ++; Chromodoris westraliensis - 2 blue patch form; Pyrene turturina; ?Nassa francolina -worn; Latirulus turritus; Coralliophila costularis; Drupella cornus; Cypraea sp worn; Cypraea pallidila fragment; Chiton - elongate rough plates almost covered[?]; Chama; Pinctada margaritiferal Spondylus ++; Septiferl Plicatula; Barbatia sp; Pinna
Infaunal: Conus textile; Conus sp white c purple lip; Naticid -faint bands (3) & rad lines - umbilical pad dark?; Cerithium ?echinatum worn; Periglypta reticulata (orange); Periglypta sp?; Fragum fragum; Tellina sp - broken & worn; Tellina sp (virgata staurella) yelaw[?]
NWC#9
Floor of channel off #8 (E side); Cover 0-10% in sand ( v fine, silty). At places where cover ->0% small isolated patches of reddish (blue green?) algae. Where cover ->10%; Coral 90%; Angiosperms 0-<5% broad leaved Halophila; Crustose corallines 0; Browns 95%, ? Padina (smooth edge) 10% & larger thallus form like Padina (smooth edge 90%); Greens <5%, Halimeda - brittle, leathery green.
Molluscs Epifaunal: Chromoderis westraliens - lined form - on sand; Turbo agyrostoma; Pyrene turturina; Spondylus.
(After #9 W side, before #9 E side) We then travelled N to point S of Sandy Point & N of landing place - on wide edge of reef flat with low but abrupt drop off to sand & sandy rubble bottom.
NWC#10
Wall of drop off from 1->6' at LWL, fairly strong water flow shorewards; Cover 100. Coral 60. Crustose corallines 50. Angiosperm 0 (but sparsely out in channel at junction of sand & rubble bottoms - broad leaf Halophila?). Browns 100, <5 Padina - smooth edge, Fucoids 95; Sargassum 90, Turbinaria 10.
Molluscs Epifaunal: Turbo argyrostoma ++; Tectus +; Cypraea caputserpentis; Cypraea helvola; Cypraea lynx; Haliotus varia; Drupella cornus (actually on reef flat near edge); Cheilea; Fissurellid - narrow large hole posteriorly; Lampusia nicobarica; Modulus tectus; Cypraea finbriata; Septifer; Tridacna maxima (crushed); Malleus - pale; Mytilid - perio hairs; Limid - fragile flat ribbed.
Molluscs Infaunal: Strombus mutabilis; Bulla ampulla; Pupa solidula; Conus - small white purple lip; Cerithacean ? v small - cone brown ribs on white; ?Mitrella - pink, small live!; Trapezium bicarinatum; Codakia ?paytenorum; Fragum fragum +++; Periglypta - worn; Fragum fragum +++; Tellin - white smooth fragment yellowish deep anterior internal rib.
1-VI-81
Louisette & I talked with George about fossil assemblage from Tantabiddy deposit near Mangrove Bay - consistent with back-reef situation or coral bombie in channel with strong water movement. Paddy, Richard & Clay left for Yardie Creek while Louisette, George & I went first to Mangrove Bay fossil deposit (photos) before going down to Yardie. George then went off to work on fossil deposits there while the rest of us set off for Yardie Creek gap or went out beyond it to an area of large coral bombies where we dived.
NWC#11
depth about 30'. Coral bombie dissected with gaps c sandy floor where shell & other debris accumulated - a lot of the shell debris was of smashed shells - presumably eaten by fish or crayfish. Cover <100 (few small sand patches). Coral 60. Crustose Corallines 50. Angiosperms 0. Browns 60; Prostrate 20; Short Laminate (Pockockiella) 75; fucoids <5 Turbinaria. Reds 40%; Jointed corallines 40; rest 60, filamentous/turf 50, soft reds 50.
see notes 2 pages back
Molluscs - epifaunal: Cypraea caputserpentis; Turbo argyrostoma +++; Morula uva; Tectus ++; Nassa francolina; Lambis ? chiragia - v worn; Drupa ricinus - fragment; Sabia conica; Drupella cornus ++;Tutufa bufo - dead & worn; Ovula ovum; Cypraea peraria; Cheilea equestris; Coralliophila violacea; Colubrellina granularis; Septa ? hepatica - fragment! see dist'n; Cypraea isabella; Cypraea ursellus; Cypraea sp - small long thin white base & sides; Cypraea helvola; Cypraea errones; Cypraea fimbriala; Cypraea cicercula; Trivirostra cryza; Infaunal?{ Oliva sp - see W&G : 106; Mitra cucinerina?; Mitra ticaonica ?; Mita sp ax. ribs; Mitra sp. brown & white - slender; Mitra sp, tan & cream v slender; Mitra ? variabilis - worn; Mitra sp - fragment, strong ribs conc, freckled; Mitra sp - strong conc ribs, brown & white bands};Infaunal{Conus nussatella - but see dist'n!; C. sanguinolentus- but see dist'n!; Conus sp fragment - strong conc. ribs; Conus sp like conularius but cream & white live; Nudibranch - yellow granular plastic[?], Aglaja - yellow forked tail, Phyllidia - fine massive tubercles; Latirulus turritus; fuseiolariid ? - conc brown ribs-frag; Latirulus picteus ? fragment - but see dist'n!; drupe - small black conc ribs on brown; Pisania ?; Colubraria tortuosa ! see dist'n; ?Vexilla vexillum frag (! see dist'n); ? Vanikoro -fragment; Pyrene turturina; Cerillium ?echinatum; Coralliophila sp - pink interior; Mitrella sp - mottled & sl ox ribbed; Mitrella sp conc. lines; Liolia sp; Infaunal Mitra 0 like omibalis frag.; Gena auricula - conc ribs cream c faint brown bands; Cyclostrematid! small umbilicus - beaded rib, small heavy, pink & cream; ? Pseudostomatella juv. (?papyacea); ? pyramidellid & culinid; muricids ? 2 spp juv; buccinid ? elongate - ax ribs - brown & white bands; limpet - acmeid? v small - orange rays?; ?Murexsul white-ribbed axially c strong spiral lirae; Isognomon - small -pale; arcid. 
Infaunal: Conus sp. -small wgite c purple lip; turrid - small, ax & conc. ribs, cream c faint brown bands; Cerithiacean - small - lined; Cerithiacean - fairly small - pale; Ctena bella; Ventricolaria; Periglypta reticulata; Trapezium bicarinatum? but inflated & no real ribs; ? obesum.
We then came inshore theough gap & went N to an embayment in the back reef (shorewood edge of reef flat). The embayment was floored with sand & rubble (shell & coral) & the coral grew more luxuriously towards the aperture of the embayment.
NWC#12
Floor of embayment. 0 cover. slope of wall ->6' below LWL. Cover 95%. Coral 50%. Angiosperms 0. Crustose corallines 30. Reds >65%; J. corallines 0; Turf 95%, other 5% Laurencia. Browns 30; fucoid 100 - Turbinaria 90, Sargassum 10. Greens <5; tuberal fine "Halimeda" bunches in soft substrate or on hard substrate 100&.
Molluscs Epifaunal: Haliotis asinina; Morula uva; Tectus ++; Periternia incarnata; Cypraea caputserpentis; Cypraea moneta; Cypraea lynx; Pyrene turturina; Drupella cornus; Conus sp.; drupe small purple mouth strong black lirae c white nodules; Coralliophila costularis; Phyllidia - pink grey nodules on longit[?] bands; Coralliophila violacea; Tridacna (? maxima)- free standing - 2', 5 folds - short at ink[?] end, blue & brown mantle; Pinctada margaritifera; Spondylus; Tridacna maxima; Septifer; Plicatula.
Infaunal: Malea pomum; Strombus mutabilis; Parcanassa; turrid - white distant small strong ax. ribs; Cerithiid -small -pale; Conus sp - small,white, purple lip; Semele; Codakia - flat rad. ribs; Ventricolaria; Ctena bella; tellinid - Pinguitellina type - yellowish - interrupted conc. lamellae - whitish opaque near unbones[?] - see Sh. Bay 1981 specs.
NWC#13A
We then came S & inshore to a large bombie - basically a large colony of Porites which was surrounded by typical channel flow of fine silty sand & shell fragments. On the channel flow the cover was nil except close to the base of the large bombie & some of the adjacent smaller ones where Halophila grew sometimes fairly densely in small patches - otherwise more sparsely - 2 species 1 fine 1 coarse. Here I also found Halimeda in isolated bunches & Dictyota attached to the dead coral.
Molluscs epifaunal: Pyrene turturina
Molluscs - infaunal: Strombus mutabilis; Cerithium fasciatum; Bulla ampulla; Parcanassa; Conus sp - white c purple lip; bucinid edentulate[?] small swim[?] globose; Ctena bella; Fragum fragum; Acrosterigma reeveanum; Ventricolaria toreuma; Acrosterigma sp ?juv dupuchense[?] frag.; venerid ?Pitar; "lepton" -inflated almost quadrate; "lepton" inflated somewhat oblique; Tellin Macominae Exotica? obl sculpt on R V only; Dosinia - fine lamellae smale; Semele ? psittacus ?; Tellina staurella? +? T. sp (cf virgata); Mitre elongate ax. ribs tan & cream; Mitre - squat ax. ribs strong spiral bands lirae shouldered & turreted pink & white; Cerithiid - strong distant ax. ribs, fine brown striae out on whorls; Naticid? fragment - inflated; Mactra sp. frag; Periglypta ? fine
NWC#13B
Bombie. Cover 100. Coral etc 50. Angio 0 Crustose Corallines 70. Reds 80. Jointed Corallines 0. Turf/fil 70. other 30 turgid [sketch of algae] - iridescent blue in some areas furry almost fil. form. Greens 20 Halimeda 2 spp. coarse segment & brittle fragile. Caulerpa 4 spp tabular, large balls, v small round grapes (3 on sides of bombies) & coarse flat serrate. Boodlea on top of bombie, green c flat spongy fan shaped thalli.
Bombie molluscs epifaunal: Lamellaria nigra (large) on coral Porites; Turbo argyrostoma; Coralliophila violacea - large!; Diodora - fairly even ribs & high; Cerithium echinatum; Drupella cornus; Colubrellina granularis; Halotis varia; Pseudostomatella pallidula; Gena auricula; Phasianella; Cynatid - fragment juv.; Mytilid - ribbed -fragment; Cypraea ursellus - worn; Cypraea sp. frag; Cheilea; limid fragile flat; ?Arca ventricosa; Barbatia ? viriscens; Anadara ?vellicata; Hyotissa white c black spots.
- Came in to Yardie Creek - boulder reef out of water: Cypraea caputserpentis; Turbo sp (cf cinereus); Cronea; Planaxis; Liotia peroni; Cantharus undosus; Pyrene seripter[?]; 3 spp cerithiids; Hyotissa sp - white c black spots under boulders; Sepia papuensis; Valonia sausage shaped; Caulerpa - club shaped spongy t=rami[?]