Notodoris minor explained

Notodoris minor is a species of sea slug. It is a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aegiridae.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was known as Notodoris minor, but a 2004 paper considered Notodoris to be a junior synonym of the genus Aegires.^[2] This decision was reversed in 2015.^[3]

Description

Notodoris minor can grow to 14 cm in length. The skin is toughened with tiny spicules. The upper surfaces have a few irregular pustules, while the small rhinophores are smooth and simple. The branched gills are located midway along the body and are partially hidden by three large lobes. The Notodoris minor has a yellow background colour and a pattern of diagonal and transverse black lines arranged in a network covering the entire body. The gills and rhinophores are yellow, but in younger specimens and with some adults, there may be some black pigmentation.

Distribution

Notodoris minor lives in the Indo-west Pacific area. It has been found in the Philippines, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Mauritius, Tanzania, Oman, Indonesia, Okinawa, Papua New Guinea, and the Great Barrier Reef.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2015). Notodoris minor Eliot, 1904. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=531090 on 2016-01-09
2. Fahey S. J. & Gosliner T. M. (2004). A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Aegiridae Fischer, 1883 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Phanerobranchia) with Descriptions of Eight New Species and a Reassessment of Phanerobranch Relationships. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 55(34): 613-689.
3. Moro L. & Ortea J. (2015). Nuevos taxones de babosas marinas de las islas Canarias y de Cabo Verde (Mollusca: Heterobranchia). Vieraea. 43: 21-86.
4. Rudman, W.B., 2003 (July 11) Notodoris minor Eliot, 1904. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.

   Diet

   Notodoris minor feeds on calcareous sponges belonging to the family Leucettidae. In the Indo-West Pacific, specimens have been recorded eating Leucetta primigenia.

   Further reading

   • Gosliner, T.M. Behrens, D.W. & Williams, G.C. (1996). Coral reef animals of the Indo-Pacific. Sea Challengers, Monterey, California. 314 pp.
   • Marshall, J.G. & Willan, R.C. (1999). Nudibranchs of Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. A survey of the Opisthobranchia (Sea Slugs) of Heron and Wistari Reefs. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, 257 pp.