
Amphibious Sea Snake in shallow, fringing
coral reef at Manado Tua, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo thanks to
Kelvin Lim.
Family : HYDROPHIIDAE
Species : Laticauda colubrina
Maximum Size : 1.5 metres
References
: H1, H2
Link : Aquatic Snakes of Southeast Asia,
Field Museum of Natural History ...
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link
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The Amphibious Sea Snake,
like other Sea Kraits, spends its time mainly at sea in shallow tropical
reefs. However, it frequently comes ashore, especially during the breeding
season when their eggs are laid on land. It is thus not considered a 'true'
sea snake, which bear live young at sea.
The attractive silver and
black banding covers the entire body from the neck area to the tip of the
tail. The tail is laterally compressed and rudder-like, making the snake an
efficient underwater swimmer. The species has a powerful myotoxic venom
which will paralyze the muscles of a bite victim.
This species ranges along
the coasts of Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, West Malaysia and Singapore to
the islands of Indonesia, Philippines and the western Pacific Ocean.
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