Which is the olive sea snake habitat?

The olive sea snake is the most common sea snake along the northern coast of Australia and nearby island groups. It is a true snake and gets its common name from the color of its skin. Like all reptiles, olive sea snakes breathe air, but unlike the sea turtles, crocodiles, sea kraits, and other marine reptiles – which must nest on shore – the olive sea snake’s entire life cycle occurs in the ocean.

Growing to lengths over six feet (2 m), this species is well adapted to a life on coral reefs. It has a flattened, paddle-like tail and a large lung that allows it to go hours between breaths at the surface. Given its length, it has special light sensing organs in the tail that allow it to remain totally hidden, including the tail, in its preferred hiding places among the reef, during daylight hours.

The olive sea snake is a highly venomous snake that actively hunts small to medium sized fishes and benthic invertebrates, including prawns and crabs. It prefers to hunt at night and only comes out of its daytime hiding places to take occasional breaths.

Olive sea snakes are naturally curious and are known to approach scuba divers, not aggressively but inquisitively, especially at night. They only rarely bite people, but their bites can be fatal. Olive sea snakes do not leave the water to nest or for any reason at all. This species reproduces via internal fertilization and gives live birth to a few (6-8) well-developed young that do not receive any parental care.