Notodoris minor
A yellow-and-black dorid nudibranch of the Indo-west Pacific.
Notodoris minor is a species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, which is a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aegiridae. It is notable for its distinctive yellow and black coloration and its occurrence across the Indo-west Pacific region.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Notodoris minor
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The taxonomy of Notodoris minor has been subject to revision. A 2004 paper considered Notodoris to be a junior synonym of the genus Aegires, but this decision was reversed in 2015. The species can grow to 14 cm in length. Its skin is toughened with tiny spicules, and the upper surfaces bear a few irregular pustules. The rhinophores are smooth and simple, while the branched gills are located midway along the body and are partially hidden by three large lobes.
The body has a yellow background color with a pattern of diagonal and transverse black lines arranged in a network covering the entire body. The gills and rhinophores are yellow, though in younger specimens and some adults there may be some black pigmentation. Notodoris minor feeds on calcareous sponges belonging to the family Leucettidae; in the Indo-West Pacific, specimens have been recorded eating Leucetta primigenia.
Reader's Guide
Notodoris minor is a dorid nudibranch in the family Aegiridae, known for its striking yellow body with a network of black lines. Its distribution spans the Indo-west Pacific, including locations such as the Philippines, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Mauritius, Tanzania, Oman, Indonesia, Okinawa, Papua New Guinea, and the Great Barrier Reef. The species reaches up to 14 cm in length and has a skin toughened with tiny spicules. Its gills are partially hidden by three large lobes, and its rhinophores are smooth and simple. The diet consists of calcareous sponges of the family Leucettidae, with recorded feeding on Leucetta primigenia. The taxonomy has been debated: a 2004 paper synonymized Notodoris with Aegires, but this was reversed in 2015. The species is documented in references such as Gosliner, Behrens & Williams (1996) and Marshall & Willan (1999), contributing to the understanding of Indo-Pacific nudibranch diversity.
Did You Know?
- It feeds on calcareous sponges of the family Leucettidae, including Leucetta primigenia.
- A 2004 paper considered Notodoris a junior synonym of Aegires, but this was reversed in 2015.
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