Black-Banded Sea Krait

## Description

The black-banded sea krait (Laticauda semifasciata ), also known commonly as the Chinese sea snake or erabu, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Laticaudinae of the family Elapidae. In Japan it is known as erabu umi hebi (ja:エラブウミヘビ), and in Okinawa as the irabu. It is found in most of the warm waters of the western Pacific Ocean.

This sea snake frequents coral reef areas. It has a short head, thick trunk, and no easily discernible neck. The tail is simply extended skin, spread wide like a fin, and unsupported by any bony projections from the vertebral column. The stomach is comparatively wide. Massing together near the shore, it breeds between narrow cracks in the reef and in caves. It is a nocturnal snake, rarely seen during the day. It breathes air; so it breaks the surface at least once every six hours.

It is too slow to catch fish in a straight chase, so it hunts for fish hiding in the coral. Alternately, gathering in the hundreds, the black-banded sea krait forms hunting alliances with bluefin trevally, flushing potential prey from narrow crannies in a reef the same way some moray eels do. The bite is highly venomous and paralyzes the prey. Females lay their eggs on land.

Generally, the species is found in Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Its venom is ten times stronger than that of a cobra, making it extremely dangerous. The snake does not attack humans unless it feels threatened or provoked.

The erabu snake is a winter staple in southern Japan, where it is believed to replenish a female's womanhood. Irabu soup *irabu-jiru* (ja:イラブー汁) is said to taste like miso and a bit like tuna. This soup was a part of the royal court cuisine of Ryukyu Kingdom; it is thought to have analeptic properties.

## Appearance

The Black-banded sea krait is a venomous snake found in most of the warm waters of the western Pacific Ocean. It has a short head, thick trunk, and no easily discernible neck. The tail is simply extended skin, spread wide like a fin, and unsupported by any bony projections from the vertebral column. The stomach is comparatively wide.

## Distribution

These snakes are found in China, Taiwan, southern Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. They inhabit tropical marine environments and coral reefs.

## Behavior

Black-banded sea kraits are nocturnal snakes, rarely seen during the day. They are highly aquatic but frequently leave the water during the breeding season or just to digest food and rest. Black-banded sea kraits are slow swimmers and can't catch fish in a straight chase, so they typically hunt their prey hiding in the coral. They may also gather in the hundreds, forming hunting alliances with Yellow goatfish and Bluefin trevally and flush potential prey from narrow crannies in a reef the same way some moray eels do. While in the water Black-banded sea kraits need to breathe air; so they usually break the surface at least once every six hours. These snakes are extremely dangerous; their venom is ten times stronger than that of a cobra and their bite paralyzes the prey. However, despite that, Black-banded sea kraits are generally docile and non-aggressive and do not attack humans unless they feel threatened or provoked.

## Diet

Black-banded sea kraits are carnivores (piscivores) and feed mainly on the fish.

## Reproduction

During the breeding season, Black-banded sea kraits usually mass together near the shore. Females lay their eggs between narrow cracks in the reef and in caves, often communally. Clutches typically contain between 3 and 7 eggs that hatch after 4-5 months. Males and females of the Black-banded sea krait reach reproductive maturity at snout-vent lengths of 70 and 80 cm (28 and 31 in), respectively.

## Population

### Population threats

The main threat to the Black-banded sea krait is climate change which has caused deterioration of its native habitat and may lead to a decrease in prey abundance and the loss of refuge sites.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Black-banded sea krait total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List

## References

https://animalia.bio/black-banded-sea-krait