Yellow Bellied Sea Snake

(Pelamis platuris)

Golfo Dulce, January 2009. This population that occurs in the "Sweet Gulf" is uniquely solid yellow, rather than the black dorsal and yellow ventral coloration normally seen. This species is the most pelagic of the sea snakes and typically drifts along open ocean currents. The fact that the Golfo Dulce is only a 100 feet or so at the mouth where it meets the Pacific, may play a role and preventing swift Pacific currents from entering the Gulf and thus isolating this population.

This site designed and hosted by Integrity PBS. Updated 9/17/06   Last Updated: March 14, 2004