It gets its name from the beautiful blue coloration around its lips, a feature that sets it apart from other sea snakes and adds to its mysterious charm. Found in the warm, tropical waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, this snake is perfectly adapted to a life both in the ocean and on land. It has a paddle-shaped tail that helps it swim with grace and speed, while its strong belly scales enable it to crawl efficiently on rocky shores and coral reefs. Unlike many sea snakes, the blue-lipped sea krait still returns to land regularly, where it rests, basks in the sun, and lays its eggs.
One of the most fascinating things about the blue-lipped sea krait is its hunting skill. It primarily feeds on eels and small fish, using its highly potent venom to immobilize prey quickly. Despite its venom’s strength, the snake is generally not aggressive toward humans and usually avoids confrontation. Its striking black and white bands and blue lips make it easily recognizable in the water, but these colors also serve as a warning signal to potential predators. This snake is mostly active at night, when it hunts by swimming silently through coral reefs and crevices, relying on its excellent sense of smell and vision to find prey.
The blue-lipped sea krait has special salt glands near its tongue that help remove excess salt from the seawater it swallows, keeping its body balanced and healthy. This ability to manage salt is essential for survival in the ocean. On land, the snake can move quite well, using its body and strong scales to grip rocky surfaces, an important skill for finding safe spots to rest and lay eggs.
Distribution
Indian ocean
Pacific ocean
Australia
Bangladesh
Cambodia
China
Fiji
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Myanmar
New Caledonia
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Wallis & FutunaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
