Elapidae
New Caledonian Sea Krait
VenomousLaticauda saintgironsi
6 photographs of the New Caledonian Sea Krait. © Debra Baker.
The New Caledonian Sea Krait (Laticauda saintgironsi) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 4 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 New Caledonian Sea Krait
The New Caledonian sea krait (Laticauda saintgironsi) is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Laticaudinae of the family Elapidae. The species is native to the waters around New Caledonia.
Etymology
The specific name, saintgironsi, is in honor of French herpetologist Hubert Saint Girons.
Geographic range
L. saintgironsi is endemic to New Caledonia, including the Loyalty Islands. It is very rarely found outside of its native range (one specimen was found in New Zealand in 1925), likely due to Laticauda species tending to spend time onshore or in shallow water, limiting their chance to encounter oceanic currents.
Habitat
The natural habitats of L. saintgironsi are marine, intertidal, and supratidal, from a depth of 80 m (260 ft) to an altitude of 100 m (330 ft).
Description
L. saintgironsi exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females growing larger than males. Maximum recorded snout-to-vent length (SVL) for a male is 81.7 cm (32.2 in). Maximum recorded SVL for a female is 109 cm (43 in). The upper lip is yellow or cream-colored, and the rostral scale is undivided. Specimens can be identified by this yellow upper lip, which is present in both this species and the Yellow-lipped sea krait, and the presence of 21 rows of mid-body scales, compared to the yellow-lipped sea krait's 23 banded rows that meet ventrally.
Diet
The diet of L. saintgironsi consists of non-spiny anguilliform fishes, with the lipspot moray Gymnothorax chilospilus representing about half of the prey.
Parasites
Only a few parasites have been recorded for the New Caledonian sea krait, including camallanid nematodes.
Reproduction
L. saintgironsi is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: New Caledonian Sea Krait
- Is the New Caledonian Sea Krait venomous?
- Yes. The New Caledonian Sea Krait (Laticauda saintgironsi) 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 New Caledonian Sea Krait poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The New Caledonian Sea Krait is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the New Caledonian Sea Krait 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 New Caledonian Sea Krait live?
- The New Caledonian Sea Krait has verified records in 4 countries, including New Caledonia, France, New Zealand. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the New Caledonian Sea Krait eat?
- The diet of L. saintgironsi consists of non-spiny anguilliform fishes, with the lipspot moray Gymnothorax chilospilus representing about half of the prey.
- Why is it called the New Caledonian Sea Krait?
- The specific name, saintgironsi, is in honor of French herpetologist Hubert Saint Girons.
If you are bitten by the New Caledonian Sea Krait
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
Yellow-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda colubrina
Blue-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda laticaudata
Chinese Sea KraitLaticauda semifasciata
Dwarf Sea KraitLaticauda frontalis
Katuali Sea KraitLaticauda schistorhynchus
Rennell Island Sea KraitLaticauda crockeri
Flat-tailed Sea KraitLaticauda guineai
Red-bellied Black SnakePseudechis porphyriacus
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.