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Blue-Banded Sea Krait

Laticauda laticaudata

The Blue-Banded Sea Krait (Laticauda laticaudata) is a highly venomous species of sea snake found in the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean.

It is known for its distinctive blue and black banded pattern, which helps to camouflage it while swimming in the ocean. The snake has a flattened, paddle-shaped tail that allows it to swim quickly through the water. 

They are generally about 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 feet) in length, and can weigh up to 2.2 kg (4.9 lbs). Their venom is highly potent and can be deadly to humans, but they are not aggressive and will typically only bite in self-defense.


Blue-Banded Sea Kraits are found in the warm, tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean, including the waters surrounding Indonesia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. They are primarily found in coral reefs, rocky coastlines, and shallow lagoons, but may also be found in deeper waters near the continental shelf.

The Blue-Banded Sea Krait feeds primarily on small fish, including eels and gobies. They are known to be highly effective hunters, using their powerful sense of smell to locate their prey before ambushing them with lightning-fast strikes.


Blue-Banded Sea Kraits are primarily active during the day, but may also be active at night. They are highly adapted to life in the water and are able to hold their breath for up to 2 hours while diving. 

They are also known to be highly social, often congregating in groups during the breeding season. Despite their highly venomous bite, they are not aggressive towards humans and will typically only bite in self-defense.


The Blue-Banded Sea Krait (Laticauda laticaudata) is a member of the Elapidae family, which includes all venomous land and sea snakes. It is classified in the genus Laticauda, which includes a total of six species of sea kraits. 

The Blue-Banded Sea Krait is known for its distinctive blue and black banded pattern, which helps to camouflage it while swimming in the ocean.

They are currently listed as a species of “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

blue-lipped sea krait graphic
"File:Laticauda laticaudata (Ko Samui).jpg" by jurvetson is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.
blue-banded sea krait featured
"Blue-lipped Sea Krait, Laticauda laticauda (Linnaeus, 1758)" by Misenus1 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.
Blue-Banded Sea Krait Clickable
By Bramadi Arya - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/
blue-lipped sea krait photo
"File:Laticauda laticaudata (Ko Samui).jpg" by jurvetson is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.