TY - JOUR
T1 - Sea snake diversity at the Entrecasteaux atolls, Coral Sea, as revealed by video observations at unbaited stations
AU - Goiran, Claire
AU - Mallet, Delphine
AU - Lanos, Noeline
AU - Shine, Richard
AU - Udyawer, Vinay
AU - Wantiez, Laurent
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - The first survey of sea snakes (Elapidae, Hydrophiinae) at the remote Entrecasteaux atolls, Coral Sea, was conducted using remote unbaited 360° video cameras (RUV360), in 2021. We detected 49 snakes belonging to at least six species (Aipysurus duboisii, A. laevis, Hydrophis coggeri, H. macdowelli, H. major and H. ornatus) at the two largest atolls, Surprise and Huon. Three more are probably present (Emydocephalus annulatus, H. peronii, H. platurus), highlighting the richness of these atolls. No snakes were detected at neighboring smaller atolls. The lack of sea snake observations at the five small atolls may be due to the insufficient area of suitable habitat. Compared to assemblages sampled using the same method in New Caledonia (at Nouméa = A. laevis, E. annulatus, Laticauda sp., H. macdowelli, H. major, H. ornatus; at Touho = A. laevis, H. ornatus), and assemblages sampled with different methods at the Chesterfields (A. duboisii, A. laevis, E. annulatus, H. coggeri, H. laboutei, H. peronii, H. platurus), the Entrecasteaux atolls exhibit a high sea snake species richness. RUV360s appear to sample the diversity of sea snakes more effectively than did baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) within the Great Barrier Reef (which detected only A. laevis, H. curtus, H. ocellatus).
AB - The first survey of sea snakes (Elapidae, Hydrophiinae) at the remote Entrecasteaux atolls, Coral Sea, was conducted using remote unbaited 360° video cameras (RUV360), in 2021. We detected 49 snakes belonging to at least six species (Aipysurus duboisii, A. laevis, Hydrophis coggeri, H. macdowelli, H. major and H. ornatus) at the two largest atolls, Surprise and Huon. Three more are probably present (Emydocephalus annulatus, H. peronii, H. platurus), highlighting the richness of these atolls. No snakes were detected at neighboring smaller atolls. The lack of sea snake observations at the five small atolls may be due to the insufficient area of suitable habitat. Compared to assemblages sampled using the same method in New Caledonia (at Nouméa = A. laevis, E. annulatus, Laticauda sp., H. macdowelli, H. major, H. ornatus; at Touho = A. laevis, H. ornatus), and assemblages sampled with different methods at the Chesterfields (A. duboisii, A. laevis, E. annulatus, H. coggeri, H. laboutei, H. peronii, H. platurus), the Entrecasteaux atolls exhibit a high sea snake species richness. RUV360s appear to sample the diversity of sea snakes more effectively than did baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) within the Great Barrier Reef (which detected only A. laevis, H. curtus, H. ocellatus).
KW - Elapidae
KW - Hydrophiidae
KW - Hydrophiinae
KW - Marine snake
KW - New Caledonia
KW - Species diversity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139714105&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00338-022-02307-x
DO - 10.1007/s00338-022-02307-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85139714105
SN - 0722-4028
VL - 41
SP - 1551
EP - 1556
JO - Coral Reefs
JF - Coral Reefs
IS - 6
ER -