Is the Hawaiian Sea Snake Poisonous?

All sea snakes are venomous no matter where they are, they are poisonous. However, there are no poisonous sea snakes specifically named the "Hawaiian sea snake."

While there is no specific "Hawaiian sea snake," sea snakes can be found in the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceana.  All of them are poisonous, maybe because they are cousins to cobras. 

• Fortunately, they are very shy and rarely bite people, even when handled. 
• Even if they bite you, they may not release venom. 
• They thrive in tropical and subtropical waters and are not found in the Atlantic Ocean. 
• They can resemble eels but their heads are a different shape and their tails look like a paddle. 
• Most sea snakes are between 120 and 150 cm long; but,m some can reach over nine yards long.

All About Sea Snakes

Now that you know that sea snakes in Hawaii can be poisonous, you might want to learn more about sea snakes in general:

• Of the 72 species of sea snakes, the large majority cannot crawl on land.  One genus, the Laticauda can move somewhat on land. 
• The heads of sea snakes look like land snakes with dorsal placement of the eyes.
• Their tails are flattened to make swimming easier. 
• Unlike their land brothers, sea snakes can breathe through their skin (cutaneously) and get up to 20% of their oxygen needs in that manner. 
• Since they are reptiles and do not have gills like fish, they must surface to breathe. They can, however, stay under the water for hours at a time. 
• Because they live in salt water, they have to have a way to get rid of all that salt. Sea snakes have a gland under their tongue that expels extra salt using the action of their tongue.  

Eels vs. Sea Snakes

You may be wondering how to tell the difference between an eel and a sea snake. 

• If you are in the Atlantic Ocean, then you are looking at an eel. 
• If you are in the Pacific or Indian Oceans or Oceana, then you may see a sea snake. 
• The head will look flat with the nostrils high on the top. 
• The tail will be flattened and not round like an eel’s. 
• A sea snake will have to surface to get air as it does not have gills. 
• Most sea snakes have multicolored stripes, with yellow and black being found often. 
• Many times the stripes change to spots towards the tail. 

Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake 

One poisonous sea snake that can be seen in Hawaii is the Yellow-Bellied sea snake.

• Its scientific name is Pelamis platurus.
• Besides being in Hawaiian waters, it can also be found on both sides of the Pacific Ocean and prefers warm water between 11.7 and 36 degrees Celsius.
• It is the most deadly of the sea snakes and no anti-venom is available. However, like other sea snakes, it is docile to anyone but its prey. 
• It has never been known to bite a human and is not an endangered or threatened species.  
• Much of its time is spent in deep dives. 
• It is a carnivore and hunts its prey by ambush. 
• It hunts during the day and spends its nights on the ocean floor.  This may be why it is found in shallow waters near the coast. 
• It grows to be up to 113 centimetres in length. 
• Its colors are yellow and black, with the top of its body being black or dark brown and its belly being yellow. 
• Some are all yellow and some are yellow with a narrow black stripe on top.

Now you understand that any Hawaiian sea snake you may see is definitely poisonous and that there is a good chance that it is probably is the Yellow Bellied sea snake.  You would probably see it near the coast as it is surfacing to breathe.  You need not fear it, as it will probably just swim away from you.