Elapidae
Black-ringed Sea Snake
VenomousHydrelaps darwiniensis
The Black-ringed Sea Snake (Hydrelaps darwiniensis) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 2 countries.
If you are bitten
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Family
- Elapidae
- Danger
- high
About the Black-ringed Sea Snake
Hydrelaps is a monotypic genus of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae. The genus contains the sole species Hydrelaps darwiniensis, also commonly known as the black-ringed mangrove snake, the black-ringed sea snake, Darwin's sea snake, and the Port Darwin sea snake. The species is native to Australia and New Guinea.
Etymology
The specific name, darwiniensis, refers to the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of H. darwiniensis are mangrove mudflats and seawater to a depth of 10 m (33 ft).
Reproduction
H. darwiniensis is viviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Black-ringed Sea Snake
- Is the Black-ringed Sea Snake venomous?
- Yes. The Black-ringed Sea Snake (Hydrelaps darwiniensis) is venomous and belongs to the Elapidae family (cobra, mamba, coral or sea snake). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Black-ringed Sea Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black-ringed Sea Snake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Black-ringed Sea Snake dangerous?
- This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Where does the Black-ringed Sea Snake live?
- The Black-ringed Sea Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Australia, Papua New Guinea. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Black-ringed Sea Snake?
- The specific name, darwiniensis, refers to the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
If you are bitten by the Black-ringed Sea Snake
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.
Where it is found
More Elapidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.