Scientific Name: Ardeadoris cf. symmetrica

Adult Size: 25 – 50 mm
Depth Range: 6 – 35 m; most sightings on sheltered reef slopes and sandy ledges
Biotope / Habitat: Clean sand patches adjacent to coral heads or rubble, often resting on low sponges or tunicates
Diet: Believed to feed on thin encrusting sponges (exact prey not yet confirmed); pigments are stored in the mantle for chemical defence
Reproduction: Hermaphroditic; individuals pair flank-to-flank, then lay a loose, lemon-yellow ribbon of eggs attached by one edge to the substrate. Veliger larvae drift as plankton before settling.
Fun Fact: Ardeadoris cf. symmetrica sports a crisp white mantle margin outlined by twin yellow and orange lines—traits shared across the genus—yet subtle internal anatomy differences hint it may represent an undescribed species closely allied to A. symmetrica.

Graceful and unmistakably elegant, this dorid glides over the reef like a miniature cream-rimmed flag. Its smooth mantle, frilly skirt, and symmetric colour bands make it a favourite target for wide-aperture macro portraits.