Variable dorid
Chocolate-chip dorid
Spiky dorid
Small-spot dorid
Tiny elegant nudibranch next to two variable dorids
Same elegant nudibranch in more details
Ghost nudibranch
A relation to the ghost nudibranch, undescribed (Lecithophorus sp.)
Tiny orange-clubbed nudibranch
And the same orange-clubbed nudibranch in more detail
All photos Johan Swanepoel
Variable dorid Aphelodoris brunnea
This dorid truly lives up to its name as the darker markings on a white base can be highly variable, to the extent it is sometimes not certain what species one is looking at! See the image with the tiny elegant nudibranch flanking two variable dorids which are on the right - the markings are very different!
Chocolate-chip dorid Aphelodoris sp.1
There are numerous dorids with dark markings on white, and telling them apart - if they are actually different species to start off with, is often very hard. The chocolate-chip dorid has few, but large, markings, setting it apart from others.
Spiky dorid Aphelodoris sp.3
We are not sure whether the spiky dorid is a new species, or simply another Aphelodoris species with "goose bumps" - the notum with bumps and spikes is different to the usually smooth notum seen otherwise, but is it a different species? We don't know yet.
Small-spot dorid Discodoris sp.1
Another white-with-dark-spots dorid, but with smaller, fewer spots. Similar species abound, and visually are hard to tell apart.
Elegant nudibranch Cratena sp.1
This is one of the more beaufitul aeolid nudibranchs, with the cerata elongated and thin, giving the species a very elegant look. Similar species exist. however, and one must be careful to look at colouration, presence or absence of a black spot at the tips of the cerata, and other characteristics.
Ghost nudibranch Lecithophorus capensis
A very "dull" nudibranch, being partially translucent white - hence the name. Generally small and quite inconspicuous.
Orange ghost nudibranch Lecithophorus sp.
This one is related to the previous one, but now sports a bright colour. Gosliner found this species in Algoa Bay, and is probably still undescribed.
Orange-clubbed nudibranch Limacia clavigera
Generally a conspicuous nudibranch with club-shaped cerata with orange tips, this small specimen is hardly visible on the reef. This species is commonly seen in smallish groups, mating and laying flat, broad egg spirals.
For more details on these nudibranchs, see "Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay", available directly from SURG or leading 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.