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| snakes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Reptilia > shore snakes |
| Marbled
sea snake Aipysurus eydouxii Family Elapidae updated Oct 09 Where seen? This attractively-patterned snake was seen once on the sand bar of Chek Jawa in the early morning. It looked like it was stranded there at low tide. It is considered uncommon and usually found in coastal areas and estuaries. Features: About 1m long. A fat cylindrical body, with large rounded scales. It is also called the Beaded sea snake and Olive sea snake. It has a small head with rather large eyes. Like other sea snakes, it has a flattened paddle-shaped tail used like an oar to swim with, and valved nostrils which it can close when submerged. A venomous snake, it will NOT bite unless disturbed. There are apparently no records of this snake biting a human. In any case, it has tiny fangs. When stressed, it may instead writhe and turn upside down. Possibly pretending to be a dead or sick snake? Which is another reason why we should not touch even seemingly dead snakes. What does it eat? It is said to eat only fish eggs. Marbled babies: Mama snake bears live young. Status and threats: It is not listed among the threatened animals of Singapore. However, like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. |
 Chek Jawa, Aug 02  |
 Chek Jawa, Aug 02 |
 Writhing and turning upside down. |
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 Chek Jawa, Aug 02 |
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 Flattened paddle-shaped tail. |
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Links
References
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Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
Natural History Publications (Borneo). 254 pp.|
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