Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Names and classification

Scientific name

Hydrophis platurus

Common names

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Family

Elapidae

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Uncertain

Origin

Indigenous

Conservation status

Not assessed

Evidence limits

Statewide indigenous status is supported; Kauaʻi-specific occurrence is not established strongly enough to claim regular presence.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

Pelagic tropical and subtropical marine waters.

Food and resource needs

Small fishes and eels.

Reproduction

Live-bearing; Hawaiʻi-specific reproductive use unknown.

Shelter

Not applicable; pelagic species.

Threats and conservation

Threats

Hawaiʻi-specific population threats and abundance are poorly known; marine pollution and prey/oceanographic changes are plausible concerns but are not well quantified locally.

Conservation actions

Protect habitat, reduce fisheries/debris/disturbance risk, comply with protected-species rules, and monitor occurrence and reproductive activity.

Monitoring

Maintain coastal/offshore occurrence records and protect precise sensitive nesting-site data; improve Kauaʻi-specific abundance/use estimates.

Data gaps

Kauaʻi-specific occurrence and abundance are poorly known.

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing

Year-round potential; Kauaʻi-specific seasonal pattern unknown

Seasonal description

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus) is state-recognized as indigenous to Hawaiʻi, but Kauaʻi-specific occurrence remains poorly documented.

Sources and further reading

• Hawaiʻi DLNR — Hawaiʻi State Wildlife Action Plan — Marine Reptiles