What is the current scientific genus for the yellow-bellied sea snake besides the historical *Pelamis*?
Answer
*Hydrophis*
Contemporary scientific classification, driven by ongoing genetic analysis, places the yellow-bellied sea snake, formerly known as *Pelamis platurus*, into the genus *Hydrophis*. This genus represents a broader grouping that encompasses numerous species of sea snakes. This taxonomic shift reflects the evolution of scientific understanding regarding relatedness and lineage within the Ophidia order, moving away from older classifications that might have placed it in a monotypic genus (*Pelamis*). Although the species retains its unique ecological niche, its genetic relationship to other sea snakes necessitates its placement within *Hydrophis*.
Related Questions
What is the current scientific genus for the yellow-bellied sea snake besides the historical *Pelamis*?What structural modification of the tail serves as the primary propeller for the yellow-bellied sea snake?Where are the specialized glands located that allow the yellow-bellied sea snake to actively excrete excess salt?What camouflage pattern is exhibited by the yellow-bellied sea snake's coloration, featuring a dark top and bright bottom?What major evolutionary trade-off results from the great reduction of ventral scales on *H. platurus*?What geological event is identified as the barrier preventing the spread of *P. platurus* populations into the Atlantic Ocean?What key characteristic distinguishes the reproductive cycle of the yellow-bellied sea snake from many coastal sea snakes?To what purpose is the highly potent, neurotoxic venom of *Pelamis platurus* primarily evolved?How does the lifestyle of the yellow-bellied sea snake contrast with sea kraits (*Laticauda* species) regarding their interaction with land?What term specifically defines the yellow-bellied sea snake's existence living permanently away from coastlines in the open ocean?