Olive Sea Snake
Olive sea snake is a species of poisonous snake occurring in the Indo-Pacific. The species is a true sea snake spending its entire lifecycle in the ocean.
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Subphylum | Vertebrata |
Class | Reptilia |
Order | Squamata |
Suborder | Serpentes |
Family | Elapidae |
Subfamily | Hydrophiinae |
Genus | Aipysurus |
Scientific Name | Aipysurus laevis |
Other Names | Golden Sea Snake, Olive-brown Sea Snake |
Length | Around 1.2 m; however can reach 2m |
Color | Purple or brown upper surface with white underside |
Distribution | Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia |
Habitat | Coral reefs, lagoons, found at a depth of up to 68 m |
Diet | Fish, fish eggs, crustaceans |
Predators | Sharks, ospreys |
Venom Fact | Venomous |
Breeding Season | Spring |
Mode of Reproduction | Ovoviviparous (producing young ones by means of eggs hatched inside the body of the parent) |
Litter Size | 2 to 5 |
Gestation Period | Around 6 to 9 months |
Reproductive Age | Male: Around 3 years of age Female: Around 4 to 5 years of age |
Average Lifespan | Around 15 years or more |
IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |