Chromodoris africana is a large dorid growing to 80mm in length and recognisable according to following characteristics :
- the centre of the mantle consists in 3 black bands and 2 white bands
- the border of the mantle consists in a broad orange band preceded by a broad white band
- the rhinophores and gills are orange
- the foot looks like the mantle and consists in a sequence of black and white bands, and it ends with the orange band

Chromodoris africana can be mistaken for Chromodoris magnifica. They can be distinguished according to their mantle border : C. magnifica has a white band around the orange border, while C. africana has an orange border only

Also, Chromodoris africana can be mistaken for Chromodoris quadricolor. Here is how to distinguish these species :
- the mantle is more narrow and more rigid to the touch in C. quadricolor, while in C. africana it is wide and soft
- the 2 central bands are white in C. africana and bluish in C. quadricolor
- C. africana grows to a larger size than C. quadricolor

The splitting of the black bands into thinner secondary bands occurs in all mentioned species.

African Indian Ocean