creature feature. banded sea krait (laticauda colubrina)

Creature Feature

Banded Sea Krait (Laticauda colubrina)

• Highly venomous marine reptile• Found primarily in coastal waters from

Southern China to Northern Australia• Can grow up to 6.5 feet• Must surface to breathe air• Tail is laterally compressed to propel

them through the water

• Prey on animals primarily around coral reefs– Crabs– Cuttlefish– Eels– Fish– Squid

• Especially likes to prey on Moray eels– Bites and injects venom–Moray retreats into hole to die– Sea Krait waits for eel to die then

flushes it out of its hole

• Extremely potent neurotoxin• However very gentle disposition and

are generally not aggressive towards humans

• 75-80% of Sea Snake bites are "blank" non-productive bites meaning envenomation does not occur

Creature Feature

Stonefish(Synanceia verrucosa)

• Name is derived from its ability to camouflage and transform itself to a gray and mottled color, similar to a stone

• Most venomous fish in the world • Found in the coastal regions of Indo-Pacific oceans • Reaches about a foot in length• Found down to 40 m depth

• Feeds on other small fish or shrimp• Uses its camouflage to wait for prey• Opens its mouth with lightning speed and gulps

prey down• The whole attack lasts for just .0015 seconds• Stonefish are vulnerable to attacks by bottom-

feeding sharks and rays – Have a row of 13 venomous spines along its back

• Potent neurotoxins are secreted from glands at the base of their needle-like dorsal fin spines which stick up when disturbed or threatened

• Divers accidentally step on the fish and get impaled with the spines

• Venom from the glands is injected when pressure is exerted on the spines

• A few weeks pass before the glands regenerate and recharge

• Sting causes excruciating pain and tremendous swelling with death of tissues

• Severity of the symptoms depends on the depth of penetration and the number of spines penetrated

• Can kill a human in two hours • Using hot water (>109°F) may destroy the

venom proteins; however antivenom should be used

• Australian Aborigine ancient dance ritual

Video!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aLt5gxwTx8