 Around the southern African coast it is found from the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula to Sodwana Bay, from the intertidal to at least 30 m. In the light of recent discoveries regarding the "Doriopsilla" species of California it is likely that this is a species complex.The scribbled nudibranch is a smooth-bodied yellow-brown nudibranch, with opaque white lines on its notum.It may reach a total length of 50 mm.