Ringed Turtlehead Sea Snake
Emydocephalus annulatus
6.95058, 125.669
Field Notes
Description:
Also known as Turtle-headed Sea Snake and Egg-eating Sea Snake. It eats fish eggs, preferably those that it can find attached to coral and rocks.
Habitat:
Sandy areas of reefs, typically at shallow depths of about 15m, but has been found in deeper waters of up to 40m.
Notes:
Unlike the banded sea krait (Laticauda colubrina), this one didn't seem to be very shy at all. I touched it and it didn't even flinch -- in fact, it took an interest in me and approached me! I must say that was a bit scary. Spotted this critter at a depth of about 20m or so. If I'm not mistaken, it measured about 100cm long. After it finished poking through the rubble, it settled on the bottom for and lay motionless (and then I went my way).
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