Sea snakes inhabit the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. these animals that have evolved from terrestrial ancestors, and during their adaptation to aquatic lifestyle, almost all species have lost their ability to move on land. However, unlike fish they don’t have gills and have to surface to breathe. They are predators of the sea that use their venomous fangs to paralyze and kill their prey which is usually small fish. Most of them are mildly tempered, but they all are venomous and could be dangerous if provoked. Here is a list of most unusual species that stand out among other sea serpents with their looks or behavior.
Turtle Head Sea Snake (Emydocephalus Annulatus)
The turtle head sea snake got its name due to its short, blunt head that looks very similar to a turtle’s head. They can be found in a wide range of colors – dark blue, brown, black, and they often have blotchy or banded patterns in lighter shades of grey or yellow. Their fangs are quite small, even less than a millimeter long, because their diet consists mainly of fish eggs. They eat quite frequently, sometimes several times an hour and form small social groups for protection. This is the least venomous sea snake in this list and when confronted it’s first natural reaction is to hide in reefs rather than attacking.
Hooked Nose Sea Snake (Enhydrina Schistosa)
The name of the hooked nose sea snake comes from the distinctive beak like snout. This serpent is usually dark grey above with a yellow or light olive belly. Its usually eats small fish and fish eggs, but sometimes they can even swallow an eel. In fact, they can swallow a prey that is twice size of its neck. It is one of the most venomous snakes on this planet and is responsible for more than 50% of human deaths that are caused by sea snake bites. However, it has the same shyness that most sea snakes have and is actually more scared of humans than humans are scared of them.
Yellow Belly Sea Snake (Pelamis Platurus)
The yellow belly sea snake got its name because of its bright yellow belly. The upper part of the body is black. The body shape of these snakes is compressed, it’s twice the diameter of the snake’s neck. Yellow belly sea snakes are one of the rare serpents that can actually be found in open ocean. These creatures like to hang around in groups among debris which gives them a great hiding place for hunting fish.
Olive Sea Snake (Aipysurus Laevis)
The body of olive sea snake is stout and rounded in olive brown, purple-brown or golden color. Its head is not distinct from the body, so for an unobservant viewer they might appear to be like big worms. This animal is one of the few sea snakes that can comfortably move on the land although it spends most of the time in water. They hunt for prey in coral reefs which can be dark at times and, although this snake is not gifted with excellent eyesight, the nature has taken care that this snake can see what happens in underwater caves. Their tails have photo-receptors that detect light. Unlike the most sea snakes, olive sea snake can be quite aggressive. It is not advised to touch them even if they are on sand, because they are known for feigning death.
Banded Sea Snake (Laticauda Colubrina)
The banded sea snake is white with black rings circling the entire length its body. It lives mostly in the sea, but comes to land for reproduction. Because of this amphibian nature, the banded sea snake has cylindrical body shape the same as land snakes and ventral scales. The body is well suited for moving on land and even climbing trees. However, its tail is shaped like a paddle which allows the banded sea snake to swim fast in water. The head and tail of this creature look quite similar which sometimes can confuse predators. If the snake’s tail is attacked, it is less likely that it would suffer fatal injuries.
Hope you enjoyed reading this article and getting known to these unusual sea animals!
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