Apart from striking differences in the egg ribbons, individuals of this species are externally not distinguishable from the medallion silvertip nudibranch, Antiopella longidentata.

This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found only from Saldanha Bay to East London, from the intertidal border to at least 40 m.[2] The Cape silvertip nudibranch grows up to 40 mm in total length.

It is a pale-bodied nudibranch with dark- to tan-coloured cerata with white tips.

They are separated from one another by an opaque white spherical mass of unknown function known as the rhinophoral crest.

This species of nudibranch feeds on moss animals, bryozoans such as Menipea triseriata and Onchoporella buskii.