Comments on: It’s Alive! Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake in New Zealand

By: nzcryptozoologist

nzcryptozoologist — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:45:24 +0000

Camperguy
is perfect we have the Moehau - The NZ version of Bigfoot and many more cryptids.

No to say there haven’t been trails at introductions - in the late 1800’s a sea captain tried to introduce the Australian Black Snake in the Zuckland area, nothing was ever seen or heard of them again, however in the 1950’s a black serpent was seen to cross a footpath in a park in Rotorua.

Tony Lucas
NZ Cryptozoologist

By: zytebac

zytebac — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:00:06 +0000

From what I’ve read about seasnakes, although they are highly venomous, they are generally timid and will not bite unless provoked, and most times, not even then. I don’t know anything about this sub-species but my motto is, leave them alone and they’ll leave you alone.
It seems to me that the only danger from this snake would be to their natural prey and the other preditors whose habitats they might be invading.

By: Point Radix

Point Radix — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:19:15 +0000

Introduced mammals have had significant impacts on the indigenous fauna of New Zealand, especially the effects of domestic cats and dogs on several of the species of non-flying birds. However, I doubt that the rule of “killing opossums on sight” would find such ready acceptance in the case of people’s pets.

One interesting dimension of this snake issue is - can the arrival (and survival) of such snake species by “natural” means be viewed in the same way as species be viewed in the same ways as animals introduced by humans? While the arrival and dispersal of snakes (poisonous or other) would undoubtedly have effects on the remaining native fauna, it must be remembered that almost all colonizations by plants and animals, on isolated islands is a result of these accidental or incidental arrivals.

By: loyalfromlondon

loyalfromlondon — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:38:02 +0000

I went on holiday there for a month a few years back and was amazed to learn that there aren’t any natural land-based predators on the 2 islands.

Now Opossums, they aren’t native and have endangered several species of birds. So everywhere you go, you learn the #1 Kiwi rule.

Kill any Opossum you see.

By: youcantryreachingme

youcantryreachingme — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:24:55 +0000

I’ll put my hand up for the snakes… snakes are gorgeous!

By: red_pill_junkie

red_pill_junkie — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:35:45 +0000

Point Radix, I suppose it is a possibility, hopefully someone would have a look at it.

Yeah, I’m not the greatest fan of snakes, but that animal has a beautiful color.

By: cryptidsrus

cryptidsrus — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:38:12 +0000

It is indeed beautiful…
And dangerous…
I did not know NEW ZEALAND had no snakes!!!
Fascinating…

It just occurred to me…

Maybe ST PATRICK visited NZ before going to Ireland???

Heh-heh-heh.

Good posting as usual, Loren!!!

By: CamperGuy

CamperGuy — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:07:48 +0000

I do not like snakes but that critter is beautiful!

New Zealand has no snakes hmmmm ….if it only had bigfoot it would be perfect.

By: Point Radix

Point Radix — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:06:15 +0000

QUOTE: “Few sea snakes survive in New Zealand’s cold waters.”

Could the increase in these sitings of these snakes, including this live one, be an effect related to increases in average sea temperature (as a result of global warming)?

By: CryptoHaus_Press

CryptoHaus_Press — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:45:02 +0000

another fascinating posting, loren! i gained so much more information from your review than reading several different articles online as well as reviewing CNN’s video footage, the latter of which offered no background information at all!

i now at least understand why the fuss: the climate has prevented formerly lucky New Zealanders from becoming a poisonous sea snake haven, which as at least one (formerly ignorant) type like myself would presume it already was given its island status!