How Do Sea Snakes Mate?
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Sea Snakes In Captivity
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Sea snakes don't breed well in captivity and are not recommended as pets. However, attempts are being made by zoos and aquariums to breed them to keep various species from going extinct. There is still a lot about sea snake biology that we don't know, but scientists do know that there are dozens of snake species grouped under the term "sea snakes."
Finding a Mate
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Sea snakes mate during the summer, when the water is warmest. The female is thought to release pheromones to reel in males and often attracts more than one. iIt is unknown how she makes her final selection, as the males don't have to battle to win the right to mate.
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The Act
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The sea snake couple entwines underwater, where the smaller male wraps around the larger female. He has two penises, but only one can mate at a time with the female. Mating takes hours, with the female being the one to decide when to surface for air. The male could actually drown during mating. If he survives the mating, he goes away and plays no part in raising the young.
Baby Snakes
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Different sea snake species have different gestation periods. It can be anywhere from 4 to 11 months. Many species of sea snakes give birth to little fully formed baby snakes, while some species need to come ashore and lay eggs. The banded sea snake, pictured above, is one such species. The female plays no part in raising the young, but the baby snakes are able to take care of themselves.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Image of banded sea snake from Wikimedia Commons
