Yellow-bellied Sea Snake
Pelamis platurus
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- P. platurus – Costa Rica – photo by Will Flaxington
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- P. platurus – Costa Rica – photo by Will Flaxington
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- Map By Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Pelamis platurus occurs occasionally off the coast of Southern California from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County. It appears off the coast only during strong El Nino events when the warm waters of the Pacific Oceas are pushed north bringing with it tropical species of marine fish and reptiles that do not normally reside in our area. Pelamis platurus is common in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean from central Mexico to northern South America and westward to the Indian Ocean and the east coast of the African Continent. It has the largest distribution range of any snake species on Earth.
LEGAL STATUS: No Listings