Variable dorids photographed by Di Froude at Pyramid.
Photo Kyle Gorman
Photo Carel van der Colff
Mating. Photo Guido Zsilavecz
Drawing by Guido Zsilavecz from a specimen seen at Pyramid in 2002!
Two very differently patterned variable dorids photographed by Guido Zsilavecz at A-Frame and Long Beach.
The variable dorid is well named, as it is indeed highly variable in its pattern. Coloration is never very bright, remaining in the brown to dark-brown range, but the pattern in which this colour overlays the pale body can be very different between individuals. This variability seems to be an Aphelodorid characteristic world-wide - in New Zealand Aphelodoris luctuosa has the common name of "variable nudibranch", while in Australia Aphelodoris varia has the variability built into the scientific name.
The variable dorid is not common, and while its range extends from Cape Point to Easy London, it is known to be most prolific around Port Elizabeth.
Update:
Subsequent to Di Froude's sighting this species has been seen and photographed by numerous divers, independently of each other, all at Pyramid, including two mating and a single one by Guido Zsilavecz. The sighting triggered Guido's memory and looking through his log book he found a drawing of one he saw at Pyramid in 2002. It is interesting to note that all have been seen at Pyramid, and not (yet?) at nearby Castle Rocks. All those seen there look similar, yet vary radically from the ones Guido photographed at A-Frame and Long Beach. While the species is highly variable in pattern, and the individual shown in Gosliner's guide book is very different to either varieties shown here, images found on-line do match both patterns, and all are labeled as A. brunnea. It still begs the question whether they are truly the same species!
For more details see "Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay", now available from SURG and better Cape Town dive shops.
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.
Nudibranchs of the world, H. Debelius, R. Kuiter, 2007.
Goat Island Marine Reserve, J. Enderby, T. Enderby, 1998.