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Olive Sea Snake

Aipysurus laevis
Olive Sea Snakes, named for their scale coloration, are found in shallow reef areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are typically found no deeper than 150ft (45m).

They are fully aquatic; they and live, breed, and feed underwater, but they must surface for air once every half hour. These snakes even give birth underwater, to live young!

Olive Sea Snakes are actually venomous, and can do a lot of damage if they bite you. Fortunately, bites are uncommon, and an antivenom exists.

They feed on fish and crustaceans, and are active during both day and night.
IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Indian and Pacific Oceans
Size : Length up to 6.5ft (2m)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Reptilia -- Order : Squamata
Family:  Elapidae -- Genus : Aipysurus -- Species : A. laevis
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Comments

  1. pistol shrimpDecember 1, 2011 at 10:27 PM

    Are all sea snakes poisonous of just the coral snakes?

    -admin

    ReplyDelete
  2. LaurenDecember 7, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    All true Sea Snakes (members of the Hydrophiinae subfamily) are venomous, and some are EXTREMELY toxic.

    The toxicity of other snakes depends on their family. Coral Snakes are in the Elapidae family (Sea Snakes are also in that overall family). Members of that group are venomous.

    ReplyDelete

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