Sea snake diversity at the Entrecasteaux atolls, Coral Sea, as revealed by video observations at unbaited stations

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).