The Marine Research Group meets on the evening of the second Monday of each month at the FNCV's meeting rooms. The group was originally formed as an autonomous body in 1957 and merged with the FNCV during 1997. The group has an active program of field research into marine life and a full program of speakers.

Members of the group include people actively doing research into Foraminifera, hydroids, bryozoans, echinoderms and molluscs (especially nudibranchs).

Contact points

Michael Lyons 9822 8007 (AH)
Leon Altoff 9530 4180 (AH)

Upcoming Marine events

Monday 6 February
Meeting at 8pm at the FNCV club rooms. Our speaker is Fiona Warry from the Department of Sustainability and Environment and is speaking on 'Using fish as indicators of the ecological condition of Victoria's estuaries'. Contact Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for details.

Mon - Fri 13 - 17 February
Field work in the Porland area. Contact: Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 if you are planning to attend.

Mon - Fri 12 - 18 March
Field work in the Inverloch area. Contact: Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 if you are planning to attend.

Wed 11 April
Field work at the Jawbone Williamstown. Meet at 10:30am. Contact: Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for further details.

Thu 12 April
Field workat Shorham Westernport. Meet at 8:30 am. Contact: Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for further details.

Monday 14 May
Meeting at 8pm at the FNCV club rooms. This is a round-up of the animals we have seen during our field work this season. Contact Leon Altoff on 9530 4180 for details.

Species of the month

Each month this page will feature information on a marine invertebrate. This month's species is:

Amblychilepas nigrita (Sowerby, 1834)
Length 10-15 mm. Shell exterior brown, with darker rays.
Shell oval with the two ends distinctly raised; low apex, perforated by an oval ‘keyhole’ about a fifth of the shell length. Sculpture of numerous fine, radiating ribs and concentric ridges. Interior bluish-white, sometimes with pale brown rays; smooth, callused at the perforation.
The pale to dark brown animal is nearly twice as long as the shell.
Habitat
Under stones at mid to low-tide levels on rocky exposed and semi-protected coasts. Common.
Distribution
Victoria: Recorded from many localities in all regions.
Also reported from southern W.A., S.A., Tas., and N.S.W.

Anthopleura aureoradiata

Coastal Invertebrates of Victoria (Revised Reprint)

The 1984 book by the Marine Research Group has been reprinted with updated taxonomy and some revisions. It is available from the FNCV book shop.