The Dot & Dash nudibranch is apparently one of the most common diurnal nudibranchs found in Hawaiian waters (see Sea Slugs of Hawaii), but we have found others to be far more common in the Kihei/Ma’alaea area.  Like the Locust (Pease’s), the Danielle’s and the Kahuna, this is a small, elongate nudibranch with a white/transluscent body and white and orange gills and rhinophores. The Violet-gilled nudibranch also falls into this category of a hypselodoris look-alikes, until one looks closely at the more redish rhinophores and purple gills.  From a distance the Dot & Dash is most easily mistaken for the Locust.  Fortunately, the strong dark blue dashes on its mantle make its identification unmistakable.  These individuals were found in sandy, exposed shallow water (less than 3 ft or 1 metre) and under cave ledges in 6 metres or 20 ft of water. To just over an inch, or 35 mm.