Venomous Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake Reappears on Southern California Beach After Nearly a Decade

Key facts

• A yellow-bellied sea snake, one of the world's most venomous sea snakes, was found at Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County, Southern California, on the night of September 11 by Jackie Aguilar, marking the species' first sighting in the area in nearly ten years (eight years since 2018).
• Certified marine naturalist Capt. Chad Steffen confirmed the identification, noting that while its venom can be fatal to humans, the snake is clumsy and slow on land and not aggressive.
• The species is identified by a dark brown or black back, a bright yellow underside, and a flattened paddle-like tail adapted for swimming.
• Yellow-bellied sea snakes normally inhabit the warmer tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and their appearance in Southern California is linked to changing weather patterns such as El Nino affecting ocean surface temperatures.