Yellow-bellied sea snake
Venomous · Hydrophis platurus
DangerousA bite is a medical emergency
Highly venomous but rarely seen. US reports are mostly snakes washed ashore in Hawaii and southern California. Do not touch one, even on the beach.
- Lives in
- 0 states
- Size
- 20–35 in
- Open US records
- 8
- Group
- Snake
How to identify it
- Black back and bright yellow belly
- Flat, paddle-like tail with black spots
- Found at sea or washed up on beaches
Size: 20–35 in (total length). Habitat: Open ocean; the only sea snake that reaches US waters.
Also called pelagic sea snake.
Where it lives
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
When it is out
State by state
| State | Status | Open records | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | Rare records | 5 | 2 |
| California | Rare records | 3 | 1 |
States not listed have no open records and are outside the range.
Questions
Where does the yellow-bellied sea snake live?
It has no established population in any US state. Rare records also come from California and Hawaii.
Is the yellow-bellied sea snake dangerous?
Dangerous. Highly venomous but rarely seen. US reports are mostly snakes washed ashore in Hawaii and southern California. Do not touch one, even on the beach.
How do you identify a yellow-bellied sea snake?
Black back and bright yellow belly. Flat, paddle-like tail with black spots. Found at sea or washed up on beaches.