Gardiner's Notodoris (Notodoris gardineri)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Nudibranchia · Family: Aegiridae · Genus: Notodoris.

Accepted name: Notodoris gardineri · Authority: Eliot, 1906 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 531087.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Aegires gardineri (Eliot, 1906); Notodoris megastigma J. K. Allan, 1932.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=531087 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Notodoris gardineri. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 8 cm · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

SeaLifeBase notes: Assumed maximum length from Ref. 844.

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 87199) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Notodoris-gardineri.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

459 georeferenced occurrence records for Notodoris gardineri are published through GBIF from 14 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 102 distinct locations from a sample of 459 records, omitting 13 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (221); Indonesia (147); Papua New Guinea (21); Philippines (19); Japan (12); Malaysia (10); Solomon Islands (7); Maldives (5); Palau (5); Micronesia (Federated States of) (4); Vanuatu (4); Singapore (2); India (1); New Caledonia (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2292183) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2292183&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=531087 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Notodoris gardineri can reach more than 10 cm long.

In different geographical regions the background color of the animal can vary. In the archipelagoes of the Maldives and Laccadives, the body is black with yellow spots while in the rest of the distribution range the body is yellow with black spots.

The size and numbers of spots vary from one individual to another. The gills are situated in the center of the dorsal side, they are yellow and protected by three round lobes.

The body is stiff and protected by small spicules. The rhinophores are smooth, simple, yellow and retractable.

Notodoris gardineri can be mistaken for Notodoris minor, whose body colour is also yellow with black markings except that in the latter the black forms lines on the body and not spots.

This species occurs in the tropical Indo-West Pacific.

This nudibranch lives on the external slope or top of coral reefs, commonly at 7 to 15 m depth.

Notodoris gardineri feeds mainly, according to the actual observations, on sponges of the family of Leucettidae as Pericharax heterographis or Leucetta primigenia.

This Notodoris is benthic and diurnal, moves at sight without fear of being taken for a prey.

Source: Wikipedia: Notodoris gardineri — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notodoris_gardineri (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.