What was the former scientific name for the Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Hydrophis platurus?
Answer
Pelamis platurus
The Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake underwent a taxonomic reclassification at some point in scientific history. While its current accepted scientific designation is *Hydrophis platurus*, it was previously known and documented under the binomial nomenclature *Pelamis platurus*. This change reflects ongoing scientific review of phylogenetic relationships among snake species, but both names refer to the same widely distributed pelagic reptile. Understanding the former designation is important for reviewing older ecological literature and historical records pertaining to its global distribution across the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
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What was the former scientific name for the Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Hydrophis platurus?What lifestyle term describes the Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake's existence almost entirely in the open ocean?Which major warm current is specifically noted as a habitat zone for H. platurus near Japan?How is the Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake considered in the Hawaiian Islands regarding its population status?What is the current suggested status of H. platurus observations along the coast of Southern California?Snakes found in the generally too cool waters surrounding New Zealand are categorized as what type of visitor?What anatomical feature prevents efficient terrestrial locomotion in the Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake?How are Yellow-Bellied Sea Snakes typically observed floating in the water column?What external forces commonly trigger the appearance of H. platurus washing up on beaches?What broader oceanic changes might frequency of vagrant sightings in places like New Zealand parallel?