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

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Abstract

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).

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its Supplementary Information files].

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Acknowledgements

The Entrecasteaux Atolls Campaign was part of HaPéRO program, funded by the Government of New Caledonia and the French Government through Fonds Pacifique. The authors thank the crew of the vessel Amborella for their competence and efficiency during the field trip. The survey was authorized by the Government of New Caledonia. The authors thank the editor and reviewers for improving the manuscript.

Funding

Article was funded by Fonds Pacifique, Convention de subvention 2105, Laurent Wantiez, Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Contrat de collaboration de recherche 05/2021, Laurent Wantiez.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISEA & LabEx Corail, Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP R4, Nouméa cedex, 98851, New Caledonia

    Claire Goiran

  2. VISIOON SARL, 6 rue du docteur Fruitet, Nouméa, 98800, New Caledonia

    Delphine Mallet

  3. Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP R4, Nouméa cedex, 98851, New Caledonia

    Noeline Lanos

  4. School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Richard Shine

  5. Arafura Timor Research Facility, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Brinkin, NT, 0810, Australia

    Vinay Udyawer

  6. Entropie & LabEx Corail, Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP R4, Nouméa cedex, 98851, New Caledonia

    Laurent Wantiez

Authors
  1. Claire Goiran
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  2. Delphine Mallet
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  3. Noeline Lanos
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  4. Richard Shine
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  5. Vinay Udyawer
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  6. Laurent Wantiez
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Contributions

DM, LW, VU and CG contributed to conceptualization. DM, LW VU and CG contributed to methodology. DM and CG performed formal analysis. DM, NL and LW conducted investigation. DM contributed resources. All authors were involved in writing and original draft preparation.

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Correspondence to Claire Goiran.

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Goiran, C., Mallet, D., Lanos, N. et al. Sea snake diversity at the Entrecasteaux atolls, Coral Sea, as revealed by video observations at unbaited stations. Coral Reefs 41, 1551–1556 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-022-02307-x

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