. Dangerous marine animals. Marine animals. 96 DANGEROUS MARINE ANIMALS There is disagreement regarding the disposition of sea snakes. Most persons reporting on the subject, and who have had first-hand experience with sea snakes, believe that they are generally docile. However, the aggressiveness varies somewhat from one species to the next. Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin) and Hydrophis cyano- cinctus (Daudin) seem to be more pugnacious than some of the other species. In a series of 120 cases of sea snake bites that were studied, the largest number of attacks occurred while handling nets, sorting
. Dangerous marine animals. Marine animals. 96 DANGEROUS MARINE ANIMALS There is disagreement regarding the disposition of sea snakes. Most persons reporting on the subject, and who have had first-hand experience with sea snakes, believe that they are generally docile. However, the aggressiveness varies somewhat from one species to the next. Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin) and Hydrophis cyano- cinctus (Daudin) seem to be more pugnacious than some of the other species. In a series of 120 cases of sea snake bites that were studied, the largest number of attacks occurred while handling nets, sorting fishes, wading, washing, or accidentally stepping on the snake. Regardless of the reputed docility of sea snakes, it should be kept in mind that the venom is extremely potent and they should be handled with great Fig. 60. Ventral view of front fangs of right upper jaw of the sea snake, Distira cyanocincta (Daudin). Species of Sea Snakes : Sea Snake, Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin) (Fig. 58, Top). In- habits the Persian Gulf to Cochin China and north coast of Aus- tralia. Chittul, or Banded Sea Snake, Hydrophis caerulescens (Shaw) (Fig. 58, Next to Top). Ranges from the Persian Gulf to Japan, and the Netherlands Indies. Sea Snake, Hydrophis nigrocinctus Daudin (Fig. 58, Next to Bottom). Inhabits the Bay of Bengal. Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Pelamis platurus (Linnaeus) (Fig. 58, Bottom). This species has the greatest range of any sea snake, extending from East Africa, throughout the Indo-Australian area, eastward to the Gulf of Panama. Although there are about 50 species of sea snakes, the ones listed are believed to be particularly dangerous to man. Venom Apparatus. Sea snakes inflict their wounds with the use of fangs, which are reduced in size, but are of the cobra type (Fig. 59). In comparison with other venomous snakes, their dentition is relatively feeble but, nevertheless, fully developed for venom con-. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page ima
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