OBSERVATION OF A YELLOW-BELLIED SEASNAKE (PELAMIS PLATURUS) ON MARIA ISLAND

摘要

On 31 December 2011, we came across an adult yellow-bellied seasnake (Pelamis platurus) at Bloodstone Beach on Maria Island's west coast (42°38'56"S, 148°2'17"E). We are guides with The Maria Island Walk and were with a group of guests, enjoying the warmest day on Maria Island that month. Having seen no other snakes on our journey, we were perplexed and quite excited by our finding. The snake (Plates 1-3) was lying in the tidal zone and was dead when we found it, although it appeared recently deceased (its eyes had not been pecked out by birds, and it didn't smell). The pacific gulls were showing some interest in it and were probably responsible for the fresh blood on its tail and near its head, but otherwise the seasnake had no obvious injuries.