Photo of the week: Yellow-bellied sea snake

Department of Conservation —  18/05/2016

Today’s photo of the week is of a yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus).

Sea snakes and kraits are occasional visitors to New Zealand’s waters, arriving here naturally from time to time on ocean currents.

snake

On Sunday, a yellow-bellied sea snake was spotted at Tapuae Estate Beach, just south of New Plymouth.

Encounters with these venomous sea snakes in New Zealand are rare, as they are a tropical species and only sighted 2-3 times each year.

If sighted please keep a safe distance, get a photo if possible and report the sighting to DOC.

Photo: Aloaiza | CC BY 3.0.

One response to Photo of the week: Yellow-bellied sea snake

  1. 

    Great shot!