Pelamis platura
Scientific Name:-
Pelamis platuraCommon Name:-
Pelagic Sea Snake / Yellow-bellied Sea
Malayalam Name:-
Manjakurishi pambu
Category:-
Sea snakes
Status:-
Rare in Kerala coast.
Description:-
Head and dorsal surface shiny black; underside canary yellow; tail creamish-white, with large black spots; marks on upper edge of tail, alternate with those on lower edge. Body compressed, posteriorly more than twice the diameter of the neck; the body scales are juxtaposed, subquadrangular in shape, and in 49–67 rows around thickest part of body; ventral scales, 264–406 in number, are very small and, if distinct, divided by a longitudinal groove, but usually are indistinguishable from adjacent body scales. The head is narrow, with an elongated snout; head shields are entire, nostrils are superior, and nasal shields are in contact with one another; the prefrontal scale is in contact with second upper labial; one or two preoculars, two or three postoculars, and two or three small anterior temporals are present; seven or eight upper labials are found, with four or five below the eye, but separated from the border by a subocular.
Threats:-
No major threat detected for this species.
Remark:-
These snakes breed in warm waters; they are ovoviviparous with a gestation period of about six months. The venom of this species is neurotoxic.
Pelamis platura is also known incorrectly as Pelamis platurus within the literature. This name change is due to a correction in gender from masculine to feminine. This species is usually found in the 0-10 m range of the water column.
Habitat:-
The species is the most pelagic of the sea snakes, occurring in the open ocean well away from coasts and reefs. It may occasionally occur in inter-tidal habitats and estuaries of Kerala. This species eats only fish.
Synonyms:-
Anguis platura Linnaeus, 1766
Pelamis platurus (Linnaeus, 1766) [orth. error]
References:-
Deepak Apte (2012). Field Guide to the Marine Life of India. Deepak Apte, Thane, Maharashtra, 502pp.
Palot, M.J., Radhakrishnan, C. 2010. First record of Yellow-bellied Sea Snake Pelamis platurus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Reptilia: Hydrophiidae) from a riverine tract in northern Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 2(9): 1175-1176.
Smith, M. A. 1941. Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia.
Uetz, P. (2013). Pelamis platura Linnaeus, 1766. In: Uetz, P. (ed.) (2013) The Reptile Database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=220959 on 2013-08-09
Whitaker, R. & A. Captain. (2004). Snakes of India-The Field Guide. Draco Books, Chennai, India, 481pp.