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Rare, venomous sea snake found slithering on Southern California shores. Are more coming?
L A Times ^ | Louis Sahagun

Posted on 01/15/2018 7:10:22 AM PST by BenLurkin

The yellow-bellied sea snake discovered near the 18th Street lifeguard tower on Monday was the third report of the species in Southern California since 2015 — and the fifth since 1972, said Greg Pauly, herpetological curator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

...

Sporting short sharp fangs capable of delivering extremely potent venom, the snake — named for its bright yellow underside and flattened yellow tail with black spots — is no joke.

But Pauly said “these are pretty mellow animals” and they are unlikely to bite a person unless they are picked up."

...

The yellow-bellied sea snake is the most wide-ranging in the world, inhabiting the coasts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America and Mexico, including the Baja California Peninsula.

The species, Pelamis platura, was first seen in Southern California in San Clemente in 1972. All subsequent local sightings, with the exception of the one reported Monday, occurred during El Niño years, which are marked by higher sea surface temperatures, Pauly said.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: seasnake; venomous
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To: xzins

Not a big fan of snakes... never have been, never will be.

They ARE amazing critters, though... and so many varieties of them all over the Earth.


21 posted on 01/15/2018 7:46:51 AM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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To: Hatteras
Yes they swim, but they are not ocean voyagers. They do not cross 1000’s of miles of open ocean. They still need land, to reproduce and such.
22 posted on 01/15/2018 7:49:54 AM PST by D Rider
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To: 5th MEB; ab01; AgThorn; al baby; Avalon Memories; BAW; bboop; BenLurkin; Bob J; Bon of Babble; ...
SoCal Ping!



Attention Southern Californians



Please ping me with any Southern California related articles. Thank you!

If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.

23 posted on 01/15/2018 7:50:38 AM PST by EveningStar (I am a Non-Cultist Trump Supporter.)
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To: BenLurkin

It’s rare for California.

For Asia a Pacific islands, no so much...............


24 posted on 01/15/2018 7:50:43 AM PST by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
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To: NFHale

Not to mention the garden of Eden.


25 posted on 01/15/2018 7:56:05 AM PST by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory.)
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To: DannyTN

Only if your a Conservative, otherwise they run/slither away.(After puffing up and making loud sounds).


26 posted on 01/15/2018 7:56:42 AM PST by crusher2013
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To: xzins

Lurking nearby was the yellow bellied democrat, the most lethal snake in the USA

Unlike ordinary poisonous snakes which inject venom into the body through their fangs, the yellow bellied democrat injects its poison into the mind with carefully chosen lies.


27 posted on 01/15/2018 8:07:56 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: D Rider
Traveling eco systems that go wherever the current takes them.

Could use a sea Wall, to keep these snakes out. If the 'Rats don't like it, make the sea Wall 10 feet deeper.

28 posted on 01/15/2018 8:10:37 AM PST by C210N (It is easier to fool the people than convince them that they have been fooled)
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To: EveningStar

They look scary. They must have arrived by plane.


29 posted on 01/15/2018 8:13:41 AM PST by Crucial
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To: PIF

Exactly


30 posted on 01/15/2018 8:15:28 AM PST by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory.)
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To: BenLurkin

“The yellow-bellied sea snake is the most wide-ranging in the world, inhabiting the coasts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America and Mexico, including the Baja California Peninsula.”

This little critter doesn’t seem to have a problem getting around.

But nooooo...it’s global warming....if it shows up in California.


31 posted on 01/15/2018 8:27:59 AM PST by moovova
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To: BenLurkin

California should welcome them like they do all other foreign invaders. These snakes are just seeking a better life for them and their families. The great news for California is once one of these snakes lands successfully they will bring fifty more of their relatives.


32 posted on 01/15/2018 8:33:49 AM PST by precisionshootist
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To: BenLurkin

Caused by “GLOW BULL WARMING”.


33 posted on 01/15/2018 8:47:21 AM PST by 5th MEB (Progressives in the open; --- FIRE FOR EFFECT!!)
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To: Hatteras
Tonight's feature on Monster Chiller Horror Theater is The Venomous Yellow-Bellied Sea Snakes Who Invaded Santa Monica".


34 posted on 01/15/2018 8:55:30 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Buckeye McFrog

35 posted on 01/15/2018 8:56:47 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: NFHale
The ONLY Cobra I want anywhere near me is a 1966 Shelby AC Cobra... They’re usually white, with blue stripes... or blue with white stripes...

I would like to have a 1964 AC Cobra. Those are the small block Cobras. They are more streetble. Color, blue or red would work.

36 posted on 01/15/2018 8:57:19 AM PST by painter ( Isaiah: �Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,")
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To: BenLurkin

37 posted on 01/15/2018 9:03:11 AM PST by Daffynition (The New PTSD: PRESIDENT-Trump Stress Disorder - The LSN didnÂ’t make Trump, so they can't break him)
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To: BenLurkin

Unless it was an act of creation, more are already there.


38 posted on 01/15/2018 9:21:34 AM PST by fruser1
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To: BenLurkin

There’s already plenty of venomous snakes crawling along the ground in California. They’re called Democrats.


39 posted on 01/15/2018 9:32:31 AM PST by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: mairdie

“It was a dark and stormy night at the Long Branch when the Kid threw open the batwing doors. Having just failed at Pokemon Go, the hombre was as mean as a sidewinder with a bad case of shingles.” Zane Dice
I hayed on a ranch one summer. Occasionally you would flip the hay bale on end, in order to hoist it onto the wagon with hooks, and there would be a live prairie rattler—just a little guy—but not at all happy to be caught in the twine.


40 posted on 01/15/2018 9:48:01 AM PST by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all white armed conservatives)
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