Yellow-bellied venomous sea snake returns to California beach after 8 years; rare reappearance after 2018 gives scientists clues about the species’ changing Pacific range

• Yellow-bellied sea snake Representative image by CanvaA yellow-bellied sea snake has washed ashore on an Orange County beach, marking the first reported appearance of the venomous species in California since 2018.
• The rare sighting took place at Crystal Cove, according to video footage cited by the Los Angeles Times.
• The snake’s return has drawn attention from scientists because these ocean-dwelling reptiles are rarely seen so far north.