Yellow-bellied sea snake spotted in Southern California amid El Niño

A highly venomous yellow-bellied sea snake was recently spotted at Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County, marking a rare encounter for the region. Experts note that while the species is fully aquatic and typically found in tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, warming water temperatures associated with El Niño are driving subtropical species further north.

Scientists from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County warn that a strengthening El Niño could bring various unusual marine animals to Southern California, including hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and mahi-mahi. The yellow-bellied sea snake, which carries enough venom to be potentially fatal to humans, is not aggressive and tends to be sluggish out of the water. Historically, such sightings in California have been linked to strong El Niño events, with most documented cases occurring during these periods of ocean warming.