Sea snakes from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands (Elapidae, Laticaudinae and Hydrophiinae)

The collections of the Muséum national dHistoire naturelle, Paris, include 198 sea snakes from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands, representing twelve species. Hydrophis macdowelli and H. spiralis are reported for the first time, Hydrophis major and H. ornatus confirmed for the area, while the previous record of H. gracilis is attributed to H. coggeri. Only H. caerulescens, reported from this area, was not present in our material. A key is provided for all sea snakes known from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands.