Is the Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake venomous?

Yes. The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake (Hydrophis brookii) 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 Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.

Where does the Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake live?

The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake has verified records in 10 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Elapidae

Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake

Venomous

Hydrophis brookii

The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake (Hydrophis brookii) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 10 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 Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake

The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake belongs to the Elapidae family, cobras, mambas, coral & sea snakes. Front-fanged venomous snakes, many with potent neurotoxic venom.

Elapids carry short, fixed fangs at the front of the mouth and include many of the planet's deadliest snakes: cobras, mambas, kraits, coral snakes, taipans, death adders, and the fully marine sea snakes. Most are slender and fast, and their venom is largely neurotoxic, attacking the nervous system and, in serious bites, breathing.

Its genus, Hydrophis, covers sea snakes. Hydrophis is the largest genus of sea snakes, a group of fully marine elapids built for a life spent in the open ocean. They are relatives of cobras, carry potent neurotoxic venom, and almost never trouble people who leave them alone.

The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake is venomous. Treat any bite as a medical emergency, do not try to handle or capture the snake, and get professional medical care right away.

It has been recorded across 10 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Australia and Indonesia.

Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.

Frequently asked: Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake

Is the Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake venomous?: Yes. The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake (Hydrophis brookii) 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 Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Brooke's Small-headed 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 Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake live?: The Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake has verified records in 10 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam. See the distribution section below for its full range.

If you are bitten by the Brooke's Small-headed Sea Snake

A venomous snakebite is a medical emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately. In the US, dial 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

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

Malaysia Thailand Viet Nam Australia Indonesia Bangladesh Fiji India Liberia Papua New Guinea

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.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards: Squamata
FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits: Elapidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Hydrophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Hydrophis brookii

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.