THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF AUSTRALIA
True Sea Snakes and Sea Kraits

ELEGANT SEA SNAKE
Hydrophis elegans
Highly Venomous
(but rarely bites humans)

Distribution:- In Australia they are usually found off the coast of Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.

Elegant Sea Snake (Hydrophis elegans)


Approximate distribution of the Elegant Sea Snake (Hydrophis elegans) in Australia

Click here to see photos of Elegant Sea Snakes (Hydrophis elegans) at flickr

Venomous snakes do not always inject venom when biting, those bites are called dry bites, however due to the extremely high toxicity of the venom of this species, it is vital that first aid is performed immediately (constrictive bandage etc.) and the patient is taken as fast as possible to hospital. Lack of symptoms may not mean that the victim has not been envenomated.

Correct and immediate first aid and treatment for this species and other dangerous snakes increases the chance of survival.

Although people are commonly bitten by dangerous snakes in Australia, the actual number of deaths is actually very low, due to antivenines and medical procedures.