How to Spot a Sea Snake

The ocean is a beautiful place, but it can also be a dangerous one. Thanks to movies like "Jaws," sharks have garnered the reputation as the deadliest creature in the ocean. There is another ocean animal, however, whose venom is so toxic that three drops is enough to kill nine people. Though it is rare to spot one, sea snakes are one of the deadliest species in the ocean.

Instructions

1. Check the surface of the water. Sea snakes are air-breathing reptiles that are most often spotted swimming on the surface of the water. They can go as long as two hours without resurfacing for air but are commonly found swimming along the reefs.

2. Observe a flattened tail. Sea snakes have a flattened tail rather than the more conical one typical of eels.

3. Scan the warm waters. Although there are approximately 52 kinds of sea snakes, you can only spot one in the warmer waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. If you see something that resembles a snake swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, it is some type of eel.

4. Look for multiple colors to spot a sea snake. Sea snakes are primarily two colors, like the yellow-bellied sea snake spotted in Hawaii. It has yellow and black stripes along its body. Most sea snakes have multi-colored stripes along their bodies that change to spots toward their tails.

Tips & Warnings

• Seek medical help immediately if you are bitten by a sea snake. Sea snakes are extremely venomous, and if left unattended, a victim can die after being bitten by a sea snake.

• If bitten by a sea snake, try to remove as much of the surface venom as possible, tie a bandage tightly over the affected area and get to a hospital as quickly as possible.