For sea snakes in mythology and cryptozoology, see Sea serpent.

Sea snakes, or "seasnakes", are venomous elapid snakes which inhabit marine environments for most or all of their lives. Though they evolved from terrestrial ancestors, and some such as Laticauda sp. retain ancestral characteristics which allow limited movement on land, most are extensively adapted to a fully aquatic life and are unable to even move on land. They are found in warm coastal waters from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. All have paddle-like tails and many have laterally compressed bodies that give them an eel-like appearance. However, unlike fish, they do not have gills and must come to the surface regularly to breathe. Nevertheless, they are among the most completely aquatic of all air-breathing vertebrates.^[1] Among this group are species with the most potent venoms of all snakes. Some have gentle dispositions and bite only when provoked, while others are much more aggressive. Currently, 17 genera are described as sea snakes, comprising 62 species.^[2][3] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellowbelly Sea Snake or Pelagic Sea Snake Pelamis platurus is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Reptilia redirects here. ... Suborders Lacertilia- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards This article is about the Squamata order of reptiles. ... Families Acrochordidae Aniliidae Anomalepididae Anomochilidae Atractaspididae Boidae Bolyeriidae Colubridae Cylindrophiidae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Leptotyphlopidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Typhlopidae Uropeltidae Viperidae Xenopeltidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... The Elapidae, or elapids, are a family of highly venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. ... Friedrich Boie (1789-1870) was a German scientist. ... Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about sea serpents in mythology and cryptozoology. ... A venomous snake is a snake that uses modified saliva, venom, delivered through fangs in its mouth, to immobilize or kill its prey. ... The Elapidae, or elapids, are a family of highly venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. ... Families Acrochordidae Aniliidae Anomalepididae Anomochilidae Atractaspididae Boidae Bolyeriidae Colubridae Cylindrophiidae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Leptotyphlopidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Typhlopidae Uropeltidae Viperidae Xenopeltidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... Species Laticauda colubrina Laticauda crockeri Laticauda laticaudata Laticauda semifasciata Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the Hydrophiidae. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ...

Description

Adults of most species grow to between 120-150 cm (4-5 ft) in length,^[4] with the largest, Hydrophis spiralis, reaching a maximum of 3 m (10 ft).^[5] Their eyes are relatively small with a round pupil^[6] and most have nostrils that are located dorsally.^[7] The skulls do not differ significantly from other terrestrial elapids, although the dentition is relatively primitive with short fangs and, except in Emydocephalus, as many as 18 smaller teeth behind them on the maxilla.^[1] Binomial name Hydrophis spiralis (Shaw, 1802) Yellow Sea Snake Hydrophis spiralis is a species of sea snake. ...

Yellow-lipped sea krait, Laticauda colubrina.

Most sea snakes are completely aquatic and have adapted to their environment in many ways, the most characteristic of which is a paddle-like tail that has increased their swimming ability.^[8] To a varying degree, the bodies of many species are laterally compressed, especially in the pelagic species. This has often caused the ventral scales to become reduced in size, even difficult to distinguish from the adjoining scales. Their lack of ventral scales means that they have become virtually helpless on land, but since they live out their entire life cycle at sea, they never have any need to come out of the water.^[4][7] Image File history File links Laticauda_colubrina. ... Image File history File links Laticauda_colubrina. ... Binomial name Laticauda colubrina (Schneider, 1799) The Colubrine or yellow-lipped sea krait Laticauda colubrina is a species of sea snake. ... The pelagic zone is the part of the open sea or ocean comprising the water column, i. ... Amphiesma stolata In snakes, the ventral scales, or gastrosteges, are the enlarged scales that extend down the underside of the body[1] from the head to the anal plate. ...

The only species that have retained their enlarged ventral scales are the sea kraits, represented by the genus Laticauda, with only five species. This is considered to be a more primitive group, as they still spend much of their time on land where their ventral scales afford them the necessary grip.^[4][7] They are also the only sea snakes with internasal scales, i.e. their nostrils are not located dorsally.^[8] Species Laticauda colubrina Laticauda crockeri Laticauda laticaudata Laticauda semifasciata Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the Hydrophiidae. ... Nomenclature of scales (top view of head) In snakes, the ínternasal scales are those on top of the head between the scales that surround the nostrils. ...

As it is easier for a snake's tongue to fulfill its olfactory function under water, its action is short compared to that of terrestrial snake species. Only the forked tips protrude from the mouth through a divided notch in the middle of the rostral scale.^[1] The nostrils have valves that consist of a specialized spongy tissue to keep water out, and the windpipe can be drawn up to where the short nasal passage opens into the roof of the mouth: an important adaptation for an animal that must still come to the surface to breathe air, but may have its head partially submerged when doing so. The lung has become very large and extends almost the entire length of the body, although it seems likely that the rear portion developed to aid buoyancy, rather than to exchange gas. The extended lung may also serve as a means of storing air for dives.^[4][7] Echis carinatus sochureki The rostral scale, or rostral, in snakes and other scaled reptiles refers to the median plate on the tip of the snout that borders the mouth opening. ...

Sea snakes in general are able to respire through their skin. This is unusual for reptiles, because their skin is thick and scaly, but experiments with Pelamis have shown that this species can satisfy about 20% of its oxygen requirements in this manner, which allows for prolonged dives.^[9]

Like other land animals that have adapted to life in a marine environment, sea snakes ingest considerably more salt than their terrestrial relatives, through their diet and when sea water is inadvertently swallowed. This meant that they had to evolve a more effective means of regulating the salt concentration of their blood. Mammals have the advantage of being able to pass salt in solution, mostly in the urine, but kidney function in birds and reptiles is too weak to remove salt in sufficient amounts. In birds, such as penguins, salt is removed through nasal glands, just as with the marine iguanas of the Galapagos Islands. Sea turtles have lacrimal glands that allow them to produce very salty tears. But in sea snakes, the posterior sublingual glands, located under and around the tongue sheath, evolved to allow them to expel salt with their tongue action.^[1][7] The kidneys are the organs that filter wastes (such as urea) from the blood and excrete them, along with water, as urine. ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ... Binomial name Amblyrhynchus cristatus (Bell, 1825) The Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iguana that has the unique ability among modern lizards to live and forage in the sea. ... NASA Satellite photo of the Galápagos archipelago. ... The lacrimal glands are paired glands, one for each eye, that secrete the aqueous layer of the tear film. ...

Scalation among sea snakes is highly variable. As opposed to terrestrial snakes, species that have imbricate scales to protect against abrasion, the scales of most pelagic sea snakes do not overlap. Reef dwelling species, such as Aypisurus, do have imbricate scales to protect against the sharp coral. The scales themselves may be smooth, keeled, spiny or granular, the latter often looking like warts. The black-and-yellow sea snake, Pelamis platurus, a pelagic species, has body scales that are "peg-like", while those on its tail are juxtaposed hexagonal plates.^[7] Keeled scales refer to scales (on snakes, at least) that, rather than being smooth, have a ridge down the center. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellowbelly Sea Snake or Pelagic Sea Snake Pelamis platurus is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. ... The pelagic zone is the part of the open sea or ocean comprising the water column, i. ...

Aipysurus laevis has been found to have photoreceptors in the skin of its tail, allowing it to detect light and presumably aiding it in remaining hidden inside of coral holes during the day. While other species have not been tested, it is possible that A. laevis is not unique among sea snakes in this respect.^[10] This Tree of Life article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Distribution and habitat

These snakes are mostly confined to the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, ^[4] with a few species found well out into Oceania.^[11] However, the geographic range of one species, Pelamis platurus, is wider than that of any other reptile species, save for a few species of sea turtles.^[1] It extends from the east coast of Africa, from Djibouti in the north to Cape Town in the south,^[12] across the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, south as far as New Zealand,^[11] all the way to the western coast of the Americas, where it occurs from the Gulf of California in the north to northern Peru in the south (including the Galápagos Islands).^[9] A tropic is either of two circles of latitude: Tropic of Cancer, at 23½°N Tropic of Capricorn, at 23½°S Tropic is also the name of a town in Utah, United States. ... For other uses, see Oceania (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellowbelly Sea Snake or Pelagic Sea Snake Pelamis platurus is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Nickname: Motto: Spes Bona (Latin for Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Coordinates: , Country Province Municipality City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality Founded 1652 Government [1]  - Type City council  - Mayor Helen Zille  - City manager Achmat Ebrahim Area  - Total 2,499 km² (964. ... Pacific redirects here. ... World map showing the Americas CIA political map of the Americas The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the continents of North America[1] and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... The Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez or Sea of Cortés; locally known in the Spanish language as Mar de Cortés or, much less frequently, Golfo de California) is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. ... For the nature documentary series, see Galápagos (TV series). ...

Sea snakes do not occur in the Atlantic Ocean, although Pelamis would doubtless be found there were it not for the cold currents off Namibia and western South America that keep them from crossing into the eastern South Atlantic, or south of 5° latitude along the South American west coast. Sea snakes do not occur in the Red Sea, possibly because of its increased salinity, so there is no danger of them crossing through the Suez Canal, and it is possibly also due to salinity, or rather a lack thereof, that Pelamis has not managed to cross into the Caribbean via the Panama Canal.^[1] On the other hand, it has been speculated that if Global warming eventually causes the aforementioned cold currents to become warm enough, there will be nothing to stop Pelamis from entering the Atlantic.^[13] South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Location of the Red Sea The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. ... For other uses, see Suez (disambiguation). ... West Indies redirects here. ... Two Panamax running the Miraflores Locks Te Panama Canal (Spanish: ) is a major ship canal that traverses the Isthmus of Panama in Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. ... Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earths near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. ...

Despite their marine adaptations, most species prefer shallow waters not far from land, around islands, especially waters that are somewhat sheltered, as well as near estuaries.^[4][8] They may swim up rivers and have been reported as much as 160 km from the sea.^[8] Others, such as Pelamis platurus, are pelagic and are found in drift lines; slicks of floating debris brought together by surface currents.^[13] Some species inhabit mangrove swamps and similar brackish water habitats and there are even two landlocked fresh water forms: Hydrophis semperii occurs in Lake Taal in the Philippines, and Laticauda crockeri in Lake Te Nggano on Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands.^[7] Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellowbelly Sea Snake or Pelagic Sea Snake Pelamis platurus is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. ... The pelagic zone is the part of the open sea or ocean comprising the water column, i. ... Taal Lake is a freshwater lake in the province of Batangas, on the island of Luzon, Philippines. ... Binomial name Slevin, 1934 The Crockers Sea Snake (Laticauda crockeri) is a species of snake in the Hydrophiidae family. ... Rennell Island is the largest island of Rennell and Bellona Province. ...

Behavior

Sea krait, Laticauda sp.

Much has been said regarding their temperament. Stidworthy (1974) describes all sea snake species as being reluctant to bite.^[4] The U.S. Navy describes them as generally mild tempered, although there is variation among species and individuals.^[11] Mehrtens (1987) suggests that species such as Pelamis platurus, that feed by simply gulping down their prey, are more likely to bite when provoked because they seem to use their venom more for defense. This is in contrast to others, such as Laticauda, that use their venom for prey immobilization; these snakes are frequently handled with impunity by local fisherman.^[7] Species that have been reported as much more aggressive include Aipysurus laevis, Astrotia stokesii, Enhydrina schistosa and Hydrophis ornatus.^[8] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Species Laticauda colubrina Laticauda crockeri Laticauda laticaudata Laticauda semifasciata Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the Hydrophiidae. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellowbelly Sea Snake or Pelagic Sea Snake Pelamis platurus is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. ... Species Laticauda colubrina Laticauda crockeri Laticauda laticaudata Laticauda semifasciata Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the Hydrophiidae. ... This Tree of Life article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Binomial name Astrotia stokesii (Gray, 1846) Stokes seasnake Astrotia stokesii is a species of sea snake. ... Binomial name Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin, 1803) Beaked seasnake (Enhydrina schistosa) is a species of sea snake. ... Binomial name Hydrophis ornatus (Gray, 1842) Ornate Reef seasnake Hydrophis ornatus is a species of sea snake. ...

Ditmars (1933) mentions that, when they are taken out of the water, their movements become very erratic. They crawl awkwardly in these situations and can become quite aggressive, striking wildly at anything that moves.^[6] Yet, they are also frequently caught in nets by fishermen who unravel and throw them back barehanded, usually suffering no harm.^[4] On land, sea snakes are not able to coil and strike like terrestrial snakes.^[5]

It seems they are active both during the day and at night. In the morning, and sometimes late in the afternoon, they can been seen at the surface basking in the sunlight. When disturbed, they dive down below.^[4] Sea snakes have been reported swimming at depths of over 90 m (295 ft).^[5] They can remain submerged for as much as a few hours, possibly depending on temperature and degree of activity.^[11]

Huge aggregations of sea snakes are occasionally reported. In 1932, millions of Astrotia stokesii, a relative of Pelamis, were seen from a steamer in the Strait of Malacca, off the coast of Malaysia, and formed a line of snakes 3 m (10 ft) wide and 100 km (62 mi) long.^[13] The cause of this phenomenon is unknown, although it likely has something to do with reproduction.^[1] Ditmars (1933) mentions that, in that same area, sea snakes can sometimes be seen swimming in schools of several dozen, and that after typhoons many dead specimens can be found on the beaches.^[6] Binomial name Astrotia stokesii (Gray, 1846) Stokes seasnake Astrotia stokesii is a species of sea snake. ... A close-up map showing the Strait of Malacca separating peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. ...

Feeding

Most species prey on fish, especially eels.^[8] The latter, when bitten, stiffen and die within seconds.^[4] One species prefers molluscs and crustaceans,^[8][7] such as prawns,^[11] while a few others feed only on fish eggs, which is unusual for a venomous snake. Some reef dwelling species have small heads and thin necks, making it possible for them to extract small eels from the soft bottom that they hide in.^[7] Stidworthy (1974) states that sea snakes will sometimes take bait from a fishing line.^[4] For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora - Chitons Monoplacophora Bivalvia - Bivalves Scaphopoda - Tusk shells Gastropoda - Snails and Slugs Cephalopoda - Squids, Octopuses, etc. ... For the Dutch band, see Crustacean (band). ... Suborders Not necessary complete list: Aristeidae Penaeidae Sergestidae Sicyoniidae Solenoceridae Nematocarcinidae Atyidae Pasiphaeoidae Rhynocinetidae Campylonotidae Palaemonidae Alpheidae Ogyrididae Hippolytidae Proussidae Pandalidae Crangonidae True shrimp are small, swimming, decapod crustaceans usually classified in the suborder Natantia, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. ...

Reproduction

Except for a single genus, all sea snakes are ovoviviparous; the young are born alive in the water where they live out their entire life cycle.^[7] In some species, the young are quite large: up to half as long as the mother.^[5] The one exception is the genus Laticauda, which is oviparous; its five species all lay their eggs on land.^[7] Ovoviviparous animals develop within eggs that remain within the mother up until they hatch or are about to. ... Species Laticauda colubrina Laticauda crockeri Laticauda laticaudata Laticauda semifasciata Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the Hydrophiidae. ...

Venom

Among this group are species with the most potent venoms of all snakes.^[4] However, when bites occur, it is rare for much venom to be injected, so that envenomation symptoms usually seem non-existent or trivial.^[8] For example, Pelamis platurus has more potent venom than any other terrestrial snake species in Costa Rica, but despite being abundant in the waters off its western coast, few human fatalities have been reported.^[9] Nevertheless, all sea snakes should be handled with great caution.^[8] Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellowbelly Sea Snake or Pelagic Sea Snake Pelamis platurus is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. ...

Bites in which envenomation does occur are usually painless and may not even be noticed when contact is made. Teeth may be left in the wound. There is usually little or no swelling involved and it is rare for any nearby lymph nodes to be affected. The most important symptoms are Rhabdomyolysis (rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue) and paralysis. Early symptoms include headache, a thick-feeling tongue, thirst, sweating and vomiting. Symptoms that can occur after 30 minutes to several post bite include generalized aching, stiffness and tenderness of muscles all over the body. Passive stretching of the muscles is also painful, and trismus, which is similar to tetanus, is common. This is followed later on by symptoms typical of other elapid envenomations: a progressive flaccid paralysis, starting with ptosis and paralysis of voluntary muscles. Paralysis of muscles involved in swallowing and respiration can be fatal. 3-8 hours post bite, myoglobin as a result of muscle breakdown may start to show up in the blood plasma, can cause the urine to turn a dark reddish, brown or black color, and eventually lead to acute renal failure. 6-12 hours post bite, severe hyperkalemia, also the result of muscle breakdown, can lead to cardiac arrest.^[14] Lymph nodes are components of the lymphatic system. ... Rhabdomyolysis is the rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue due to traumatic injury, either mechanical, physical or chemical. ... Technically known as trismus (Greek τρισμος, trismos, a grinding), lockjaw is a pathological condition in which the mouth is locked shut by contractions of the jaw muscles. ... Tetanus is a medical condition that is characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. ... The Elapidae, or elapids, are a family of highly venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. ... Ptosis is the paralysis of the muscles of the eyelid. ... An X-ray diffraction image for the protein myoglobin. ... Hyperkalemia is an elevated blood level (above 5. ...

Taxonomy

Sea snakes were at first regarded as a unified and separate family, the Hydrophiidae, that later came to comprise subfamilies: the Hydrophiinae, or true/aquatic sea snakes (now 16 genera with 57 species), and the more primitive Laticaudinae, or sea kraits (1 genus, Laticauda, with 5 species). Eventually, as it became clear just how closely related the sea snakes are to the elapids, the taxonomic situation became less well-defined. Some taxonomists responded by moving the sea snakes to the Elapidae, thereby creating the subfamilies Elapinae, Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae, although the latter may be omitted if Laticauda is included in the Hydrophiinae. Unfortunately, no one has yet been able to convincingly work out the phylogenetic relationships between the various elapid subgroups, meaning that the situation is still unclear. Therefore, others opted to either continue to work with the older traditional arrangements, if only for practical reasons, or to lump all of the genera together in the Elapidae, with no taxonomic subdivisions, to reflect the work that remains to be done.^[6][7][3][2] Species Laticauda colubrina Laticauda crockeri Laticauda laticaudata Laticauda semifasciata Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the Hydrophiidae. ... A phylogeny (or phylogenesis) is the origin and evolution of a set of organisms, usually of a species. ...

* Not including the nominate subspecies (typical form). Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar). ... Species Hydrophis belcheri Hydrophis bituberculatus Hydrophis brooki Hydrophis caerulescens Hydrophis cyanocinctus Hydrophis fasciatus Hydrophis inornatus Hydrophis klossi Hydrophis lapemoides Hydrophis mamilaris Hydrophis melanocephalus Hydrophis obscurus Hydrophis ornatus Hydrophis spiralis Hydrophis stricticollis . ... Pierre André Latreille. ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... Year 1849 (MDCCCXLIX) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Kolpophis is a genus of sea snakes of the family Hydrophiidae. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Species Laticauda colubrina Laticauda crockeri Laticauda laticaudata Laticauda semifasciata Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the Hydrophiidae. ... Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti (December 4, 1735 - February 17, 1805) was an Austrian naturalist. ... 1768 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellowbelly Sea Snake or Pelagic Sea Snake Pelamis platurus is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Captivity

At best, these snakes make difficult captives. Ditmars (1933) described them as nervous and delicate captives that usually refuse to eat while preferring only to hide in the darkest corner of the tank.^[6] Over fifty years later, Mehrtens (1987) wrote that while they were rarely displayed in western zoological parks, some species were regularly on display in Japanese aquariums. Available food supply is one factor that limits the number of species that can be kept in captivity, since some have diets that are too specialized. Another is that some species appear too intolerant to handling, or even being removed from the water. For any exhibit, the fish-eating species are the most logical choice. Regarding their facilities, the Laticauda species need to be able to exit the water somewhere and bask, while the other strictly aquatic genera do not, basically requiring only a tank of filtered (synthetic) sea water maintained at about 29°C, along with a submerged shelter. Species that have done relatively well in captivity include the ringed sea snake, Hydrophis cyanocinctus, which feed on fish and eels in particular. Pelamis platurus has done especially well in captivity, accepting small fish, including goldfish. However, care should be taken to house them in round or oval tanks, or in rectangular tanks with corners that are well-rounded, to prevent the snakes from damaging their snouts by swimming into the sides.^[7] Species Laticauda colubrina Laticauda crockeri Laticauda laticaudata Laticauda semifasciata Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the Hydrophiidae. ... Binomial name Hydrophis cyanocinctus Daudin, 1803 Annulated Sea Snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus is a species of sea snake. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellowbelly Sea Snake or Pelagic Sea Snake Pelamis platurus is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. ... Trinomial name Carassius auratus auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) For the baked snack crackers, please see Goldfish (snack). ...

Conservation status

Sea snakes are exploited for their meat, skin and internal organs, but despite great numbers being killed every year, CITES does not afford them any protection.^[8][16] Only one species, Laticauda crockeri, is classified as vulnerable (VU) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.^[17] The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between Governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). ... Binomial name Slevin, 1934 The Crockers Sea Snake (Laticauda crockeri) is a species of snake in the Hydrophiidae family. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ...

See also

• List of marine reptiles
• Snakebite
• Sea serpent

Euryapsids Plesiosaurs Ichthyosaurs placodonts Diapsids mosasaurs marine crocodiles marine Iguanas Categories: Lists of animals | Reptiles ... A snakebite, or snake bite, is a bite inflicted by a snake. ... This article is about sea serpents in mythology and cryptozoology. ...

References

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Further reading

is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

• Sea Snakes at Scubadoc's Diving Medicine Online. Accessed 6 August 2007.

is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...