This large snake is not usually aggressive, but since it is both very curious and venomous it is considered dangerous.
The Olive Sea Snake
Aipysurus laevis (The Olive Sea Snake) is found on coral reefs in Australia and in the Coral Triangle. It can grow to over six feet in length, and is usually a brownish colour.
- Warning Colouration– most sea snakes advertise their poisonous nature with bold patterns and striking colours. Many are yellow and black, with regular banding, a universal warning in the animal kingdom – think wasp and hornet. So the Olive Sea Snake is somewhat unusual with its drab colouration. The fact that it seems to be camouflaged might well be to do with its habit of feeding on reef fish, and the lack of warning colours might be to do with its large size. A big snake might well be warning enough!
- Breathing – all sea snakes need to surface at regular intervals to get air. The Olive Sea Snake can stay submerged for half an hour at a time, and when underwater it can close its upwardly-pointing nostrils with valves which prevent water getting in as it dives down to feed.
- Venom– poison is injected through two fangs at the front of the upper jaw, and it causes a breakdown of muscle tissue and paralysis. If the muscles responsible for breathing become paralysed death usually follows. Bites can also lead to kidney failure and cardiac arrest. Despite the fact that the venom is so dangerous few people actually die from sea snake bites. Most need to be thoroughly provoked before they will bite, and even then they often inject very small amounts of venom. But they are still dangerous!
- Swimming– like all well-adapted sea snakes Aipysurus laevishas a flattened, leaf-like tail and swims very well. It can dive to depths of over forty metres to hunt fish and crustaceans, usually over coral reefs.
- Reproduction– The Olive Sea Snake gives birth to live young at sea. It never needs to come ashore.
Photographing Olive Sea Snakes Underwater
Many divers photograph creatures while scuba diving on coral reefs. Anywhere in the coral triangle, or on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef divers can encounter Olive Sea Snakes. Since they are unusually curious it is quite likely that they will approach a diver, rather than try to escape. They are not normally aggressive, so it might be very tempting to try to photograph one, but any diver doing this should be thoroughly aware that this is a dangerous animal. They should never be provoked.
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