Origin
Sea snakes are venomous anilamas that inhabit marine environments almost all of them. Although they evolved from terrestrial ancestors and have fully adapted to marine life, most can no longer move on land.
The exception is the genus Laticauda which has retained the ability to" walk " on land, given limited distances. They can be seen in warm waters stretching from the coast of the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
They all adapted their tails for swimming. Sometimes they can be confused with electrical patterns. Unlike fish, they have no gills and need to regularly surface to breathe. Among sea snakes there are snakes that have one of the most powerful venoms in the world.
Some are relatively social and bite only when provoked, but others are much more aggressive.
There are currently described 17 genera of sea snakes comprising 62 species. Sea snakes are restricted to the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. There are no sea snakes In the Atlantic Ocean.
Feeding sea snake
Most species of sea snakes feed on fish, especially Eels. The prey after it is bitten dies in a few seconds.
One species feeds on molluscs and crustaceans, such as shrimp, while other species prefer fish roe, which is unusual for venomous snakes.
Other species that have small heads and thin necks may sneak among the corals after small eels. One individual assumed in 1974 that snakes would also feed on baits from fishing lines (rods, etc.).
Features sea snake
Adults of most species reach lengths between 120 – 150 cm. The longest sea snake is 3m long. their eyes are relatively small and in some species the nostrils are located dorsally.
The head does not differ significantly from terrestrial snakes, and its teeth are primitive: 18 small teeth can be found behind the jaw.
Most species of the sea snake are highly aquatic and have adapted to their environment in many ways. The most obvious feature is the raised and adapted tail adapted to swimming, in some species the organs are compressed laterally.
Because a snake has stronger olfactory function in water than on land the tongue is smaller because it is used less. The nostrils are closed with spongy tissue to keep water out of the body.
Most sea snakes can breathe through the skin, which is unusual for them because their skin is thick and scaly, but experiments have shown that the sea snake takes 20% of its oxygen through the skin.
This allows them to code tides at greater depths or over longer periods.
Like their cousins in the family Elapidae, most sea snakes are particularly venomous, but when they bite they do not inject much venom, so the symptoms appear to be nonexistent.
Platurus Pelamis has a stronger venom than all snakes in Costa Rica and yet there have been few human deaths. However, snakes should be handled with care.
Their bites are generally painless and are not noticeable when they make contact. There is a chance that the animal's teeth will remain in the wound.
Symptoms can occur 30 minutes to several hours after the bite. These include general pain, stiffness, tenderness of muscles, headache, thirst, sweating, vomiting, depending on the body.
Paralysis of the muscles involved in swallowing or breathing can be fatal. After 3-8 hours myoglobin can somehow affect the muscles and plasma can appear in the blood, and urine can be dark reddish, brown, black or colored. After 6-12h severe hyperkalemia can lead to cardiac arrest.
Breeding sea snake
With the exception of one genus all species are oviviparous, the young are born alive in the water in which they live.
In some species the Cubs have impressive lengths up to half the length of the mother.
The only exception is the genus Laticauda, which is oviparous, where all five species lay eggs.
