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| snakes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Reptilia > shore snakes |
| Yellow-lipped
sea krait Laticauda colubrina Family Hydrophiidae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This beautiful snake is sometimes seen on our Southern shores especially at night, hunting among reefs and coral rubble. The snake is typically found in shallow seas around coral reefs and rocky shores. |
 Sisters Island, Dec 05 |
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| According
to Baker, in Singapore, it is only found on our Southern Islands.
It can crawl about on land (not helpless like other sea snakes). It
is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific.
Features: To about 1.4m long. Males are smaller (rarely more than 1m in length) while females are heavier bodied and longer. Bluish-grey with distinct smooth scales and regularly spaced, equal-sized black bands that circle the entire body. Its upper lips are distinctly yellow, thus its common name. Head slightly distinct from the body, but no obvious 'neck'. Its tail is flattened sideways into a paddle-like shape and used like an oar to swim with. At first glance, the tail and the head of this snake look very similar. A study suggests this may help protect the snake from its predators.
Sometimes confused with the harmless Banded file snake (Acrochordus granulatus). Here's how to tell apart banded snakes seen near the coast. It may also be confused with eels. Here's more on how to tell apart sea snakes, eels and eel-like animals. What does it eat? It eats fishes and fish eggs. Eels are among their favourite prey. It has been seen actively hunting at night on the shore even at low tide, probing the coral rubble crevices for tit bits. It also comes ashore to rest, digest its meal, shed its skin and to mate. Sea snake babies: These snakes generally breed on coral atolls and rocky islets where they may gather in large groups to do so. The reef flat at Pulau Sudong used to be a well known nesting ground for the snake until it was reclaimed. The mother snake lays 5-9/7-13 eggs, in caves and grottos. The babies look just like their parents. Status and threats: Our sea snakes are listed as 'Endangered' on the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. Like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. |
 Like other snakes, it sticks out its tongue to sense its surroundings Sisters Island, Dec 03  Sentosa, Oct 03  It has a paddle-shaped tail. Sentosa, Oct 03 |
Yellow-lipped sea snakes on Singapore shores
 Pulau Semakau, Sep 05  |
 Pulau Hantu, Apr 06  |
 Sisters Island, Nov 03  |
 Beting Bemban Besar, Aug 12 |
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Links
References
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Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
Vertebrate Study Group, Nature Society (Singapore). 180 pp.
Natural History Publications (Borneo). 254 pp.
New Holland. pp 144.|
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