yellow bellied sea snake
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The yellow bellied sea snake is one of about fifty species of snakes in which all are sea dwellers and venomous. The yellow bellied sea snake is quite unique among sea snakes. Some characteristics of these snakes and the habitat in which they live in are different, plus their food habits, the way they behave, and reproduce are fairly interesting too.
The yellow bellied sea snakes reach a size of anywhere from 220-260 mm long at birth, to an adult male greater than 600 mm. They are called the yellow bellied sea snake because they gave a yellow belly and a black back. These snakes can hold their breath underwater anywhere from about one and a half hours to three and a half hours. They were built for the water with valved nostrils located high on the snout for breathing while swimming or basking on the surface. Their belly is tapered for stability in the water and lack the flattened belly scales that give land snakes traction on the ground. Their scales are like knobs that fit together like bricks rather than overlapping like land snakes. The tail is flattened to form a quite effective paddle for swimming...