In the Pacific there are around 4 dozen sea snakes that can be found; of them, only one has ever been reported in Hawaiian waters: the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus). This is the only open-ocean marine snake. Even though it does occur here naturally, it is by no means common. In fact, you'll likely never see one. Only 20 specimens have been documented. Marine sea snakes are very poisonous. They are distantly related to cobras. But as far as venomous snakes go, these guys are very timid and rarely bite people. I have swum with sea snakes on several occasions in the south pacific and even played with them. They don't want to bite you if they can help it.
Something is wrong here
Unfortunately I cannot see your video. Perhaps the "Only 20 specimens have been documented" part about the widely-distributed yellow-bellied sea snake sounds funny? That would mean 20 seen "Around here", in the area of Hawaii they are talking about.
ReplyDeleteI clicked the link and I must confess I see nothing unusual or out of place. And I don't see any moray eels anywhere on that part of the original site. There is a very clear photo of a yellow-bellied sea snake however.
Zebra moray, no doubt whatsoever. You can see the head clearly, and the fashion in which it moves, as well as the body shape.
ReplyDelete