Elapidae
Rennell Island Sea Krait
VenomousLaticauda crockeri
3 photographs of the Rennell Island Sea Krait. (c) Guillaume Tessereau, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Rennell Island Sea Krait (Laticauda crockeri) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 1 country.
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 Rennell Island Sea Krait
Crocker's sea snake (Laticauda crockeri) is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Laticaudinae of the family Elapidae. The species is native to Oceania.
Etymology
The specific name, crockeri, is in honor of American railroad magnate Charles Templeton Crocker (1885-1948), who allowed the California Academy of Sciences to use his yacht, the Zaca, for scientific expeditions.
Geographic range
L. crockeri is endemic to Lake Tegano, a brackish lake on Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands.
Description
L. crockeri is sexually dimorphic, with females growing to be longer and heavier than males. Females may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 80 cm (31 in), but males may attain only 62 cm (24 in) in SVL. Maximum tail length is about 9 cm (3.5 in) in both sexes.
Conservation status
L. crockeri is currently listed as "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to the extremely limited distribution of the species.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Rennell Island Sea Krait
- Is the Rennell Island Sea Krait venomous?
- Yes. The Rennell Island Sea Krait (Laticauda crockeri) 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 Rennell Island Sea Krait poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Rennell Island Sea Krait is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Rennell Island 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 Rennell Island Sea Krait live?
- The Rennell Island Sea Krait has verified records in 1 country, including Solomon Islands. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Rennell Island Sea Krait?
- The specific name, crockeri, is in honor of American railroad magnate Charles Templeton Crocker (1885-1948), who allowed the California Academy of Sciences to use his yacht, the Zaca, for scientific expeditions.
If you are bitten by the Rennell Island 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
New Caledonian Sea KraitLaticauda saintgironsi
Blue-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda laticaudata
Chinese Sea KraitLaticauda semifasciata
Dwarf Sea KraitLaticauda frontalis
Katuali Sea KraitLaticauda schistorhynchus
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.