Temperature Physiology of the Sea Snake Pelamis platurus: An Index of Its Colonization Potential in the Atlantic Ocean.
The yellow-bellied sea snake Pelamis platurus occurs throughout the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans from east Africa to Central America. Its latitudinal distribution limits coincide with the 18 degrees C surface isotherm. P. platurus has upper and lower thermal tolerances of 36.0 and 11.7 degrees C. With rapid cooling, P. platurus stops feeding at 16-18 degrees C; however, it has a high resistance to cold temperature and can withstand 5 degrees C for 1 hr. After 10 days' exposure, P. platurus does not acclimate to 17 degrees C and, thus, would not be able to survive for long periods in water this cold.In the event of its transit through the proposed Central American Sea-Level Canal, P. platurus would colonize the Atlantic Ocean and, during the summer months, would be able to extend its north Atlantic distribution to as far as Cape Cod and the English Channel.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 2072, Balboa, Canal Zone.
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