Belcher Sea Snake

Physical Appearance of Belcher Sea Snake

 

The length of the belcher snake can range from 0.50 m to 1 m. It has a thin body with chrome yellow color and dark green bands. The small head has similar band color as the rest of his body. Its small mouth is suitable for its underwater living. When swimming in the shallow water, it can be recognized by the fainted yellow color on its body. Hydrophis belcheri has a different scales than other sea snakes which overlap each other. The pattern on the back of the snake does not extend to venter.

 

Description for Belcher Sea Snake

 

When underwater, it will propel the paddle like tail which moves him forward in the water. It seldom comes to the land. The primary food source of the belcher sea snake is small fishes and shell fish. Like other sea snakes, it will have to visit the surface of the water from time to time. It can hold its breath up to 8 hours during hunting for food in the water. This species of sea snake is docile and won’t attack by biting unless you purposely mistreat it. Report shows that only twenty five percent of fishermen who get bitten are eventually envenomed.

Distribution of Belcher Sea Snake

 

It has a wide distribution in several oceans of the world including Indian Ocean, Gulf of Thailand, Ashmore Reed and Solomon Island. It is estimated that there is 2500 thousand of the belcher sea snakes in the world. They are not so dangerous to people because they live in remote places.

 

Derivation of Name for Belcher Sea Snake

 

The name of the Belcher sea snake was derived from the late British explorer Sir Edward Belcher. John Edward Gray is the person who is responsible of naming the snake in 1849. Later, Charles Darwin discover it and retracted his claim when he found out that it was Belcher who first came across it. The snake is also referred as Faint Banded Sea Snake and Belcher Sea Snake.