Golden sea snake, Olive-brown sea snake
The Olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis) is a species of venomous sea snake found in shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It is extensively adapted to a fully aquatic life and is unable to move on land. All sea snakes have paddle-like tails and many have laterally compressed bodies that give them an eel-like appearance. Unlike fish, they do not have gills and must surface regularly to breathe.
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Pi
PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
Se
Sea snakesSea snakes, or coral reef snakes, are a subfamily of elapid snakes that inhabit marine environments for most or all of their lives. Most are venomo...
Aq
AquaticAn aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract ...
Na
NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
Pr
PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
Co
CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
Ov
OvoviviparousOvoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous an...
Ve
VenomousVenom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
So
SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
O
starts withThe Olve sea snake has brownish and purple scales along the top of its body whilst its underside is a white color. It can grow up to a meter in length and in some cases up to two meters. The Olive sea snake swims using a paddle-like tail. It has been found to have photoreceptors in the skin of its tail, allowing it to detect light and presumably ensuring it is completely hidden, including its tail, inside coral holes during the day.
Olive sea snakes live on coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef, and can also be found in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean. They like to hide in small coves or protective coral areas if not hunting or surfacing to breathe.
Olive sea snakes are solitary creatures. They are excellent swimmers and can reach speeds of up to 12 km/h (7.5 miles per hour). They are usually active at night hunting in coral reef areas, searching for food by poking their head into crevices. They usually stay away from open water as a hunting ground. They use venom to incapacitate their prey. This venom is rich in enzymes that facilitate the internal breakdown of the prey, simplifying the digestion process. The venom also affects both the muscles and nerves of the prey. Olive sea snakes can stay underwater for up to 2 hours. They can be aggressive towards prey but attacks on divers or larger animals are usually rare, though if provoked they will not hesitate to attack.
Olive sea snakes are carnivores (piscivores). They feed on crabs and other crustaceans, fish, and fish eggs.
Little is known about the mating system of these snakes. During the breeding season, males are known to compete for access to females. Courtship usually involves a group of males vying for one female, which occurs in open water. After the gestation period that lasts for about 9 months females give birth to up to 5 young at a time. In rare cases, there can be 10 or 11 young at once. Young males can reach reproductive maturity in their third year, while females start to breed in their fourth or fifth year.
Since Olive sea snakes are usually found in coral reefs, the degradation of this habitat can pose a serious threat to the species. Prawn trawls are another serious threat for Olive sea snakes. Up to 50% of olive sea snakes caught in trawls are killed, while the ones that survive usually suffer injuries. Death from prawn trawls often comes either from drowning or being crushed.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Olive sea snake total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
