Yellow-lipped Sea Krait (also known as Banded Sea Krait)
Laticauda colubrina • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Elapidae, Subfamily: Laticaudinae, Genus: Laticauda, Species: colubrina
Found in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean, including the waters of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific Islands (e.g., Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, and Fiji).
Look up Yellow-lipped Sea Krait (also known as Banded Sea Krait) in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Venomous (Proteroglyphous). Possesses short, fixed fangs located at the front of the maxilla.
Danger Level
High Risk (Extremely Dangerous). While they have a very docile temperament and rarely bite unless severely provoked, their venom is lethal to humans; prompt medical care is essential.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Elapidae, Subfamily: Laticaudinae, Genus: Laticauda, Species: colubrina
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN Red List). However, they face threats from habitat destruction of reefs and coastal development, as well as being caught as bycatch.
Physical Description
Distinctive blue-grey or silvery body with regular black bands. The head is small and often has yellow markings on the snout (lips). The tail is laterally compressed (paddle-like) for swimming. Scales are smooth and overlap.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen appears to be an adult. Females are larger, typically reaching 1.2 to 1.5 meters, while males average around 0.75 to 1 meter.
Habitat
Marine and semi-terrestrial; inhabits coral reefs, mangroves, and rocky shores. They are unique for spending time on land for digestion, shedding, and reproduction, typically at elevations of 0-10 meters.
Behavior & Temperament
Very docile and non-aggressive toward humans under water. They are crepuscular or nocturnal foragers but bask and rest on land/rocks during the day. They exhibit a 'dual-headed' appearance with their tail to deter predators.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized feeder primarily targeting eels (moray and conger eels). They use active foraging in reef crevices and immobilize prey with their potent neurotoxin.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), which distinguishes them from many other sea snakes. They must return to land to lay clutches of up to 10 eggs in limestone caves or crevices.
Venom Profile
Highly potent neurotoxic venom that induces muscular paralysis and respiratory failure by blocking post-synaptic neuromuscular transmission.
Look-alikes
Often confused with Laticauda laticaudata (no yellow snout) or various species of Hydrophiinae (true sea snakes). True sea snakes are viviparous and cannot move effectively on land.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List). However, they face threats from habitat destruction of reefs and coastal development, as well as being caught as bycatch.
Cultural Significance
Commonly encountered by divers and coastal residents. In some regions, they are harvested for leather or food, and they play a critical role in balancing reef fish populations.
Notable Features
An amphibious specialist; it retains large ventral scales for terrestrial locomotion which true sea snakes lack. Its paddle-like tail is an evolutionary adaptation for efficient marine propulsion.