THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA
TRUE SEA SNAKES and SEA KRAITS

Laticauda colubrina

Highly Venomous
(but rarely bites humans)



India and Sri Lanka to Islands of the SW Pacific - Occasionally strays into Australian waters.

The following pictures were taken in Malaysia by Antonia Pachmann and may not be used without his permission

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All photos on this page Copyright Antonia Pachmann

Note that Sea Kraits are often seen out of water, and unlike True Sea Snakes that are livebearing, they lay eggs on land

When I visited Tanah Lot in Bali, I was able to enter a cave at low tide to see a holy snake, and for a small fee I was able to free-handle one of these Sea Kraits. This species is not feared in many islands where it is often abundant. and despite its extremely potent venom, islanders mainly children, will pick this species up without being concerned about being bitten!

Venomous snakes do not always inject venom when biting, those bites are called dry bites, however due to the extremely high toxicity of the venom of this species, it is vital that first aid is performed immediately (constrictive bandage etc.) and the patient is taken as fast as possible to hospital. Lack of symptoms may not mean that the victim has not been envenomated.

Correct and immediate first aid and treatment for this species and other dangerous snakes increases the chance of survival.

Although people are commonly bitten by dangerous snakes in Australia, the actual number of deaths is actually very low, due to antivenines and medical procedures.