MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 



97 



duction. The venom apparatus consists of the venom glands and 

 fangs. The venom glands are situated, one on either side, behind 

 and below the eye, and in front of the tympanic bones. They are 

 ovate and have an elongate venom duct which terminates at the 

 base of the fangs. Most sea snakes have two fangs on each side 

 but some have only one. The venom duct enters at the base of the 

 fang through a relatively broad, triangular opening of the canal 

 (Fig. 60) and (Fig. 61). 



VENOM 

 CANAL 



Fig. 61. 



Cross section through the fangs of the sea snake, Enhydris hardwicki. 

 Note the canal through which the venom passes. 



Medical Aspects. Symptoms caused by the bite of a sea snake 

 characteristically develop rather slowly, taking from 20 minutes 

 to several hours, but usually about one hour, before definite symp- 

 toms begin. Aside from the initial prick, there is no pain nor 

 reaction at the site of the bite. The victim may even fail to connect 

 the bite with his illness. 



In some instances, the initial generalized symptoms are a mild 

 euphoria, whereas in others, there is aching and anxiety. A sensa- 

 tion of thickening of the tongue and a generalized feeling of stiff- 



