Is the Elegant Sea Snake venomous?

Yes. The Elegant Sea Snake (Hydrophis elegans) 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 Elegant Sea Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Elegant Sea Snake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.

Elapidae

Elegant Sea Snake

Venomous

Hydrophis elegans

Elegant Sea Snake — Hydrophis elegans, (c) sue_sargent65, some rights reserved (CC BY)

4 photographs of the Elegant Sea Snake. (c) sue_sargent65, some rights reserved (CC BY).

The Elegant Sea Snake (Hydrophis elegans) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family.

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 Elegant Sea Snake

The elegant sea snake (Hydrophis elegans) is a highly venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae. They are found off the coast of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

The elegant sea snake is a medium, and slender animal growing to a length of 2 meters (6.6 feet), although in 2008 one was found at a length of 2.6 meters (8.5 feet). Like many other sea snakes, the elegant sea snake has a laterally compressed tail that aids in swimming. These sea snakes can have up to 44 dorsal bands that are grayish black to black that span across the whole length of the body. They have large head scales, and like many other sea snakes, they have nostril valves to prevent water from getting into their lungs while diving. The body scales are imbricate, and in 37–49 rows at the mid-body. The ventral scales are usually undivided and about as wide as, or slightly wider than, neighboring scales of which there are approximately 345–432.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Elegant Sea Snake

Is the Elegant Sea Snake venomous?: Yes. The Elegant Sea Snake (Hydrophis elegans) 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 Elegant Sea Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Elegant Sea Snake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Elegant 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.

If you are bitten by the Elegant 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.

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 elegans

Keep learning

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