Yellow-lipped sea krait

Yellow-lipped sea krait
Yellow-lipped sea krait in Malaysia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Laticauda
Species:
L. colubrina
Binomial name
Laticauda colubrina
(Schneider, 1799)
Synonyms[2]
  • Hydrus colubrinus Schneider, 1799
  • Platurus colubrinus — Wagler, 1830
  • Hydrophis colubrinus — Schlegel, 1837
  • Laticauda colubrina — Stejneger, 1907

The yellow-lipped sea krait (Laticauda colubrina), also known as the banded sea krait or colubrine sea krait, is a species of venomous sea snake found in tropical Indo-Pacific oceanic waters. The snake has distinctive black stripes and a yellow snout, with a paddle-like tail for use in swimming.

It spends much of its time under water to hunt, but returns to land to digest, rest, and reproduce. It has very potent neurotoxic venom, which it uses to prey on eels and small fish. Because of its affinity to land, the yellow-lipped sea krait often encounters humans, but the snake is not aggressive and only attacks when feeling threatened.

  1. ^ Lane, A.; Guinea, M.; Gatus, J.; Lobo, A. (2010). "Laticauda colubrina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T176750A7296975. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176750A7296975.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Laticauda colubrina at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database