Elapidae
Persian Gulf Sea Snake
VenomousHydrophis lapemoides
6 photographs of the Persian Gulf Sea Snake. © Arabella Willing.
The Persian Gulf Sea Snake (Hydrophis lapemoides) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 14 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 Persian Gulf Sea Snake
Hydrophis lapemoides is a species of snake in the family Elapidae known commonly as the Persian Gulf sea snake. This sea snake is native to the Indian Ocean from the Persian Gulf to the coasts of Thailand.
Distribution
This species occurs along the coasts of Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
Description
The adult can reach 110 centimeters in length. The body is yellow, olive, or gray in color, paler on the sides and belly, with olive to black banding. The juvenile has a yellow mark on the head. The tail is flattened.
Biology
This snake feeds on fish. It is sometimes caught as bycatch in fishing operations. It is a marine species but it can enter and dwell in freshwater bodies for extended periods of time. It is a venomous species. This is a common and widespread species, but little is known about its biology. During the mating season for this species it is not uncommon for sailors to see thousands of Hydrophis lapemoides sea snakes on the surface of the sea. Where Dolphin pods are seen, these masses of sea snakes are not noted, and it is suspected that the Dolphin is a natural predator of H. lapemoides.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Persian Gulf Sea Snake
- Is the Persian Gulf Sea Snake venomous?
- Yes. The Persian Gulf Sea Snake (Hydrophis lapemoides) 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 Persian Gulf Sea Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Persian Gulf Sea Snake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Persian Gulf 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 Persian Gulf Sea Snake live?
- The Persian Gulf Sea Snake has verified records in 14 countries, including Thailand, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates. See the distribution section below for its full range.
If you are bitten by the Persian Gulf 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.