Banded Sea Krait

The yellow-lipped sea krait, also known as the banded sea krait or colubrine sea krait, is a fascinating yet venomous sea snake that thrives in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Easily recognizable by its striking black stripes and yellow snout, this snake also features a paddle-like tail, which is perfect for swimming.

Despite its potent neurotoxic venom, used to hunt eels and small fish, the yellow-lipped sea krait is not typically aggressive towards humans. They may occasionally come ashore, leading to human encounters, but they will only bite if they feel threatened.

In terms of appearance, these snakes have a black head accented with yellow, a subcylindrical body, and the distinctive paddle-shaped tail. Males are generally smaller than females, averaging about 875 mm in length compared to the females' 1,420 mm.

Geographically, the yellow-lipped sea krait can be found in the eastern Indian Ocean, Western Pacific, and various parts of Southeast Asia. They have also been spotted in Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific islands.

Their venom is highly effective, causing neurotoxic effects in their prey, which primarily consists of eels. These snakes are semiaquatic, meaning they split their time between land and sea. They have unique hunting techniques and follow specific courtship rituals when it's time to reproduce, with females laying eggs outside their bodies.

Human interactions with these snakes are rare and usually occur when the snake is defending itself. In some areas, people do catch yellow-lipped sea kraits for their skin and meat. Ecologically, they play a crucial role through their hunting activities and interactions with other marine species.