Laticauda
Encyclopedia
Laticauda is a genus of snakes from the family Hydrophiidae. Laticauda are the least adapted to sea life of all the members of Hydrophiidae; they retain the wide ventral scales typical of terrestrial snakes and have only a poorly developed tail fin. Laticauda are adapted to living on land and in shallow seas.
, where they are called tricot rayé ("stripey sweater
"), children play with them. Bites are extremely rare, but must be treated immediately. Black-banded sea kraits, numbering in their hundreds, form hunting alliances with Yellow Goatfish
and Bluefin Trevally
, flushing potential prey from narrow crannies in a reef the same way that some Moray eels do.
The species L. schistorhynchus and L. semifasciata have been placed in the genus Pseudolaticauda by some authors
Location
Laticauda are found throughout the south and southeast Asian islands spreading from India in the west, north as far as Japan, and southeast to Fiji. They are mostly found in coastal waters.Diet
Laticauda feed in the ocean, mostly eating moray and conger eels. Some Laticauda eat squid, crabs, and fish. They have never been observed feeding on land.Behavior
Laticauda are often active at night, which is when they prefer to hunt. Even though they contain highly toxic venom, Laticauda are usually shy and reclusive, and in New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, where they are called tricot rayé ("stripey sweater
Sweater
A sweater, jumper, pullover, sweatshirt, jersey or guernsey is a garment intended to cover the torso and arms. It is often worn over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt, or other top, but may also be worn alone as a top...
"), children play with them. Bites are extremely rare, but must be treated immediately. Black-banded sea kraits, numbering in their hundreds, form hunting alliances with Yellow Goatfish
Yellow goatfish
The yellow goatfish , also known as yellowsaddle or goldsaddle goatfish , is a white to pale pink fish with a yellow stripe from the eye to the caudal peduncle.-Description:...
and Bluefin Trevally
Bluefin trevally
The bluefin trevally, Caranx melampygus , is a species of large, widely distributed marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae...
, flushing potential prey from narrow crannies in a reef the same way that some Moray eels do.
Breeding
Laticauda are oviparous, and they return to land in order to mate and lay eggs. Several males will form a mating ball around the female, twitching their bodies in what is termed 'caudocephalic waves'. Though these animals can occur in high densities in suitable locations, nests of eggs are very rarely encountered, suggesting that specific nesting conditions need to be met.Species and Taxonomy
Eight species are currently recognised,- Laticauda colubrinaLaticauda colubrinaThe colubrine sea krait, banded sea krait or yellow-lipped sea krait is a species of sea snake found in tropical Indo-Pacific oceanic waters....
(Schneider, 1799) - yellow-lipped sea krait - Laticauda crockeri Slevin, 1934 - Crocker's sea snakeCrocker's Sea SnakeCrocker's sea snake is a species of snake in the Laticaudinae family.It is endemic to a single brackish lake on Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands....
- Laticauda frontalis (De Vis, 1905)
- Laticauda guineai Heatwole, Busack & Cogger, 2005 - Guinea's sea krait
- Laticauda laticaudataLaticauda laticaudataThe blue-lipped sea krait is a species of sea snake.-Diagnostic Characters:Ventrals large, one-third to more than one half the width of the body; nostrils lateral; nasals separated by internasals; 19 longitudinal rows of imbricate scales at midbody; no azygous prefrontal shield; rostral undivided;...
(Linnaeus, 1758) - blue-lipped sea krait - Laticauda saintgironsi Cogger & Heatwole, 2006 - Saint Girons' sea krait
- Laticauda schistorhynchus (Guenther, 1874) - KatualiKatualiThe Katuali is a sea snake, related to the sea krait, that is found only in the waters of the Pacific Island nation of Niue, and grows up to 1 meter in length. And it is highly venomous, making it one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet. It has a fin-like tail, helping it to swim better....
or Niue sea krait - Laticauda semifasciata (Reinwardt in Schlegel, 1837) - black-banded sea kraitBlack-banded sea kraitThe black-banded sea krait, Laticauda semifasciata, known in Okinawa as the erabu, is a member of the Laticauda genus of sea snakes. It is found in most of the warm waters of the western Pacific Ocean....
The species L. schistorhynchus and L. semifasciata have been placed in the genus Pseudolaticauda by some authors