96 



DANGEROUS MARINE ANIMALS 



There is disagreement regarding the disposition of sea snakes. 

 Most persons reporting on the subject, and who have had first-hand 

 experience with sea snakes, believe that they are generally docile. 

 However, the aggressiveness varies somewhat from one species 

 to the next. Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin) and Hydrophis cyano- 

 cinctus (Daudin) seem to be more pugnacious than some of the 

 other species. In a series of 120 cases of sea snake bites that were 

 studied, the largest number of attacks occurred while handling nets, 

 sorting fishes, wading, washing, or accidentally stepping on the 

 snake. Regardless of the reputed docility of sea snakes, it should 

 be kept in mind that the venom is extremely potent and they should 

 be handled with great care. 



Fig. 60. Ventral view of front fangs of right upper jaw of the sea snake, 



Distira cyanocincta (Daudin). 



Species of Sea Snakes : 



Sea Snake, Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin) (Fig. 58, Top). In- 

 habits the Persian Gulf to Cochin China and north coast of Aus- 

 tralia. 



Chittul, or Banded Sea Snake, Hydrophis caerulescens (Shaw) 

 (Fig. 58, Next to Top). Ranges from the Persian Gulf to Japan, 

 and the Netherlands Indies. 



Sea Snake, Hydrophis nigrocinctus Daudin (Fig. 58, Next to 

 Bottom) . Inhabits the Bay of Bengal. 



Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Pelamis platurus (Linnaeus) (Fig. 58, 

 Bottom). This species has the greatest range of any sea snake, 

 extending from East Africa, throughout the Indo-Australian area, 

 eastward to the Gulf of Panama. 



Although there are about 50 species of sea snakes, the ones listed 

 are believed to be particularly dangerous to man. 



Venom Apparatus. Sea snakes inflict their wounds with the use 

 of fangs, which are reduced in size, but are of the cobra type (Fig. 

 59). In comparison with other venomous snakes, their dentition is 

 relatively feeble but, nevertheless, fully developed for venom con- 



