Creature Feature – Banded Sea Krait
This week is the letter ‘S’, and today’s featured creature is the Banded Sea Krait.
The Banded Sea Krait is a type of sea snake that can be found in coral reef and rocky shore habitats, in the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. It gets its name from the dark bands that spread across its white body. Sea Kraits spend time both in the ocean and on land. Like other marine reptiles, such as sea turtles, they lay their eggs on land. They also come ashore to drink freshwater, digest their food, rest and to shed their skin. Whilst in the water, Banded Sea Kraits can hold their breath for long periods of time and have a specially adapted body that is well-suited to swimming to help them.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Laticauda colubrina
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Laticauda
Banded Sea Krait Fact File
Size: Females can reach up to 50 inches (128 cm) long, whilst males are smaller and reach up to 30 inches (75 cm) long
Distribution: Tropical to warm temperate regions in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Ocean. They are specifically found in coral reef and rocky shore habitats
Diet: Eels
Behaviour: Spend an average of 15 – 30 minutes underwater before they have to surface for air
IUCN Status: Least Concern
