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Pelamis platura
Basic stats
Venom
Venomous (highly venomous elapid — treat any bite as a medical emergency)
Diet
Small fish sheltering under floating debris
Habitat
Open ocean, far from shore
Range
Entire tropical Indo-Pacific
Litter size
Live-bearing, 2–6 young (typical for Hydrophis)
Gestation period
About 6–7 months (typical for Hydrophis)
Size
Medium (up to 1m)
Weight
~0.5–1kg
The most widely distributed snake species in the world, found across the entire tropical Indo-Pacific and occasionally further afield, spending its entire life in open ocean far from shore — unlike most sea snakes, which stay closer to coasts.
Distinctively coloured black above and bright yellow below, drifting at the surface to ambush small fish sheltering beneath floating debris. Venomous, and essentially unable to move on land if stranded; occasionally washes ashore after storms.
