Aipysurus duboisii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aipysurus duboisii |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aipysurus
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| Species: |
duboisii
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The Aipysurus duboisii, also known as the Dubois' sea snake or reef shallows sea snake, is a type of venomous sea snake. It lives in the waters around Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and the northern, eastern, and western coasts of Australia. You can find it in the Coral Sea, Arafura Sea, Timor Sea, and the Indian Ocean.
These snakes live in coral reefs, sandy areas, and silty places up to 80 meters (262 feet) deep. They like spots with seaweed, small creatures, corals, or sponges where they can hide. Dubois' sea snakes eat moray eels and other fish that live on the seafloor. They can eat fish up to 110 cm (3.6 feet) long. Unlike many snakes, they don't lay eggs; they are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young. They are not usually aggressive but will bite if they feel threatened. Their fangs are quite short, about 1.8 mm long. This snake is a crepuscular species, which means it is most active during dawn and dusk.
It is known as the most venomous sea snake and is considered one of the top three most venomous snakes in the world.
About the Name: Dubois' Sea Snake
The special name for this snake, duboisii, was given to honor Charles Frédéric Dubois. He was a Belgian naturalist, which means he studied nature and living things.
What Does the Dubois' Sea Snake Look Like?
Adult Dubois' sea snakes can grow up to 148 cm (4.86 feet) long, including their tail. However, they are usually around 80 cm (2.6 feet) long.
- Head and Face: Their head is a bit wider than their neck. The nostrils are on the upper part of their head, and the scales around their nose touch each other. Their eyes are separated from the scales on their upper lip by a row of larger scales.
- Body and Scales: The scales on their back are usually smooth. Sometimes, they might have a small ridge or tiny bumps.
- Color and Pattern: These snakes can look very different from one another in terms of color and the patterns on their bodies.
- Tail: They have a fairly long tail.
- Chin and Throat: The chin and throat areas are lighter in color than the rest of their body.
Understanding Dubois' Sea Snake Venom
The Dubois' sea snake is incredibly venomous. Scientists measure how strong venom is using something called the median lethal dose (LD50). This measurement tells us the amount of venom needed to affect half of a tested group, based on their body weight.
- How Venom Strength is Measured: The LD50 value can change depending on the animal being tested. For example, rabbits are more sensitive to sea snake venom than mice. Fish and frogs are even more sensitive.
- Dubois' Sea Snake's Ranking: For the Dubois' sea snake, the LD50 is 0.044 mg per kilogram of body weight when tested on mice. This makes it the most venomous sea snake that has been tested.
- Among the World's Most Venomous: Overall, the Dubois' sea snake is the third most venomous snake in the world. It is only less venomous than the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus), which has an LD50 of 0.025 mg/kg, and the eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), with an LD50 of 0.036 mg/kg.
