New Janolid nudibranch as it was found on the reef.
Detail of the rhinophores and the low crest.
Silvertip nudibranch (the medallion silvertip is very similar).
The tall, conspicuous crest, the use of which is unknown, of the silvertip nudibranch.
The gasflame nudibranch, in a moderately uncommong colour variation.
The low crest of the gasflame nudibranch.
Top two photos Peter Southwood, third photo Georgina Jones, all others Guido Zsilavecz
This nudibranch was photographed by Peter Southwood and Georgina Jones at South Paw, off Clifton. With its many cerata it superficialy resembles a gasflame nudibranch (Boniza nakaza), but the colour was unusual: tan cerata with only the very end of the tip dark brown and having the appearance of a nipple.
The three Janolidae occurring in Cape Town waters all have a crest between the rhinophores. In the silvertip (Janolus capensis) and medallion silvertip (Janolus longidentatus) it is usually very distinct, as the images show, while in the gasflame it is much flatter and less conspicuous. The new Janolid nudibranch has such a crest, and given it's appearance it seems more likely that the nudibranch is either a very unusual colour variation of the gasflame, or possible a new species.
For more details on the Janolidaes, 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.