![]() The only genus that has retained the enlarged ventral scales is the sea kraits, Laticauda, with only five species. Their lack of ventral scales means they have become virtually helpless on land, but as they live out their entire lifecycles at sea, they have no need to leave the water. This has often caused the ventral scales to become reduced in size, even difficult to distinguish from the adjoining scales. To a varying degree, the bodies of many species are laterally compressed, especially in the pelagic species. Most sea snakes are completely aquatic and have adapted to sea environments in many ways, the most characteristic of which is a paddle-like tail that has improved their swimming ability. Yellow-lipped sea krait, Laticauda colubrina The skulls do not differ significantly from those of terrestrial elapids, although their dentition is relatively primitive with short fangs and (with the exception of Emydocephalus) as many as 18 smaller teeth behind them on the maxilla. Their eyes are relatively small with a round pupil and most have nostrils located dorsally. The majority of adult sea snakes species grow to between 120 and 150 cm (4 and 5 ft) in length, with the largest, Hydrophis spiralis, reaching a maximum of 3 m (10 ft). Some have gentle dispositions and bite only when provoked, while others are much more aggressive. Among this group are species with some of the most potent venoms of all snakes. Along with whales, they are among the most completely aquatic of all extant air-breathing vertebrates. Unlike fish, they do not have gills and must surface regularly to breathe. Īll sea snakes have paddle-like tails and many have laterally compressed bodies that give them an eel-like appearance. They are found in warm coastal waters from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and are closely related to venomous terrestrial snakes in Australia. Sea snakes are extensively adapted to a fully aquatic life and are unable to move on land, except for the sea kraits, which have limited land movement. Most sea snakes are venomous, except the genus Emydocephalus, which feeds almost exclusively on fish eggs. If these three freshwater species are excluded, there are 69 species of sea snakes divided between seven genera. Hydrophiinae also includes Australasian terrestrial snakes, whereas Laticaudinae only includes the sea kraits ( Laticauda), of which three species are found exclusively in freshwater. They belong to two subfamilies, Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae. Sea snakes, or coral reef snakes, are elapid snakes that inhabit marine environments for most or all of their lives. ![]() Range of sea snakes shown in lime green, except the widespread, pelagic yellow-bellied sea snake Yellow-bellied sea snake ( Hydrophis platurus) on a beach in Costa Rica ![]()
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