The olive nudibranch at Long Beach. Photos Luke Harris
Adult and juvenile olive nudibranchs photographed at Oudekraal. Photo Guido Zsilavecz
The olive nudibranch is a relatively uncommon nudibranch which, although it occurs along the whole Cape Peninsula coastline, has only been spotted sporadically, at Oudekraal, Simon's Town Harbour, and Percy's Hole, near Rooi Els. It inhabits the whole area from the intertidal zone down to at least 40m, and can be found on a variety of reefs, where it feeds on small hydroids. The dull colouration, being mostly olive, with the body sometimes in pale pink, does not make this nudibranch stand out. It attains 25mm.
For more details see Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay, available directly from SURG or better Cape Town dive stores.
Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. G. Zsilavecz, 2007
Nudibranchs of Southern Africa - a guide to the opisthobranch molluscs of southern Africa, T Gosliner, 1987.