The sea snake is one of the animals considered to be the most poisonous and deadly in the snake kingdom. Their lives are spent practically in the water and they are captured because they are a delicacy.
If you would like to learn more about the sea serpent, Here we talk about what it is like, where it lives, what it eats and how it reproduces.
Sea Serpent Characteristics
The sea serpent, also called the sea serpent, or HydrophiinaeIt is a reptile that can weigh up to a kilo and a half, although it usually only reaches 900 grams. Depending on the species, its length can range from 10-15 centimeters to three meters. The average of the species is 120-150 centimeters.
It has an elongated and slender body, with a head that is distinguished from the tail because it has the shape of an oar, helping her to swim when she is in the water. Her eyes are very small and have a round pupil. In addition, the nose is also distinguished. In its mouth has about 18 small teeth in addition to the short fangs (except in the Emydocephalus species that has them quite long).
The body is another of the characteristics of these snakes since it suffers a narrowing on the side, like the physical shape of an eel.
In general they are black with some colored rings on the body, but there are many species that differ from that hue and show colored lines, or even base colors such as blue, red, gray, etc.
Something little known about the sea snake is that it has glands in the mouth area (under the tongue) that collect excess salt from the blood, expelling it into the sea.
The venom of the sea serpent
The venom of the sea snake is one of the most poisonous that exists. In fact, a non-venomous species of this type of snake has not yet been found. However, it does not usually attack unless it feels threatened or is in danger, although in the mating season it is more aggressive.
As for its venom, it is between 2 and 10 times more powerful than that of a cobra, being able to be on a par with the most venomous land snakes in the world. The symptoms that the venom produces in humans are muscle aches, pain in the area where it has bitten, drowsiness, blurred vision, respiratory paralysis...
Of the sea serpents, the most poisonous is Enhydrin schistosa, known as the hook-nosed sea snake.
Where does the sea serpent live?
The usual habitat of a sea snake is tropical and warm waters, near coasts, reefs, coral areas, etc. since it is where they can take refuge and feel safe. It must be taken into account that these snakes need to breathe, since they can only last about 5 hours under water, so they often rise to the surface and then submerge again.
The temperature of the water is very important, since they like be in hot areas between 15 and 30 degrees. They feel very comfortable in the marine environment, in such a way that their tail is adapted to serve as a swimming aid.
Virtually all existing species of sea snake are found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
types of sea snake
Today, there are more than 60 different species of sea snakes, and so far all of them are venomous. Although they do not usually attack humans, there have been cases of bites from these reptiles.
Among the best known are:
- yellow sea snake, known by its scientific name pelamis, and one of the most famous sea serpents. It lives in the Pacific zone, both in tropical and subtropical zones and its habitat happens to be in warm waters between 16 and 30 degrees. As its name suggests, it has a gray base with yellow lines running from the tail to the head.
- black headed sea snake, o Hydrophis melanocephalus. It can rival the black mamba snake, indicating that it is one of the most venomous in the world. It lives in the Pacific and can reach over eight feet. As for its body, it is striped yellow and black. Except for the head, which is totally black.
- broad-nosed snake, O well Laticauda colubrina. It is one of the most striking snakes because it has a blue base throughout the body with black rings. The head area is more bluish green.
- Elapid Snake, or better known as New Caledonia. We are talking about a snake that is in the areas of New Caledonia, the Caroline Islands, India or New Zealand. It is one of those that is located in shallow waters, up to 80 meters, so it can be seen in the sea or out of it when they are going to lay their eggs.
What does the sea serpent eat?
The sea snake is a carnivorous animal. It feeds on everything eels and small fish, but they are not their only prey; mollusks, crustaceans, shrimps, fish eggs... are other of the favorite foods of these animals.
To hunt them, what they do is bite them with the aim of injecting them with the powerful venom they have so that their prey dies quickly.
Reproduction of the sea serpent
The sea snake, like many other snakes, are ovoviviparous. Their reproduction makes them become very aggressive during the mating season, having numerous confrontations between the males and also with some females.
However, once it is done, They can have two different ways of being born: on the one hand, young specimens (between 2 and 9) are born in the water, through their mother; On the other hand, the female comes out of the water and buries her eggs on the beach so that, after a while, the hatchlings are born, practically formed and very large, and go to the sea. The sea snake usually lays between 1 and 10 eggs for each clutch.
The parents do not worry about taking care of the young, in fact once the female leaves the eggs they forget about them and do not return again or wait for the moment when the eggs should hatch.
The sea serpent, threatened?
Although the sea snake is not listed as an endangered species, its number has been greatly reduced over the years due to the hunt these animals.
And it is that the sea snake is attracted to the lights, which makes them easily captured (always taking care of the bite of it, of course). The greatest attraction of these animals is their skin and meat. In fact, it is quite a delicacy in the East.