Olive sea snakes are among the biggest marine snake types, and are abundant on some coral-reef areas. Credit: Jack Breedon
Attacks by venomous Olive sea snakes on scuba divers may be misdirected courtship habits, according to a research study published in Scientific Reports.
Scuba scuba divers frequently report unprovoked attacks by sea snakes, which can involve chasing and biting. The reasons for these attacks have been uncertain, however the brand-new research study suggests the sea snakes might be mistaking scuba divers for possible mates.
Professor Rick Shine from Macquarie Universitys Department of Biological Sciences and colleagues examined information collected in between 1994 and 1995 describing Olive sea snake behavior during encounters with among the authors, Tim Lynch, when he was a diver in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
The researchers discovered that sea snakes approached the scuba diver throughout 74 out of 158 encounters which this occurred more frequently during mating season– in between May and August. Males were more likely than females to approach the scuba diver, particularly throughout mating season, and to snap their tongues near the scuba divers body. 13 encounters included sea snakes quickly charging at the diver.
The authors observed that all charges occurred during mating season and that those including males occurred instantly after an unsuccessful chase of a woman, or an interaction with a male rival. 3 males were also observed coiling around the divers fin, a habits usually observed throughout courtship. Charges by females happened after they were chased after by males or forgotten, and then re-approached, the diver.
Previous research study has actually suggested that sea snakes discover it challenging to identify shapes in water. The authors suggest that sea snake attacks may be triggered by male sea snakes misinterpreting a scuba diver for a rival snake or potential mate and female sea snakes perceiving a scuba diver as a possible hiding location. By remaining still and permitting a sea snake to investigate them with its tongue, a scuba diver is not likely to escalate the encounter and be bitten, according to the authors.
” The ocean is an unsafe location for people– if anything fails, things can end terribly. And seeing a huge sea snake hurtling towards you definitely certifies as “something failing”,” says Professor Shine.
” Hopefully, understanding why that snake is heading towards you– that he has mistaken you for a female of his own species– can relax your nerves and cause a much better result all around.”
Referral: “Mistaken identity may explain why male sea snakes (Aipysurus laevis, Elapidae, Hydrophiinae) “attack” scuba divers” by Tim P. Lynch, Ross A. Alford and Richard Shine, 19 August 2021, Scientific Reports.DOI: 10.1038/ s41598-021-94728-x.
The scientists discovered that sea snakes approached the scuba diver during 74 out of 158 encounters and that this happened more often throughout mating season– between May and August. The authors suggest that sea snake attacks might be caused by male sea snakes mistaking a diver for a competing snake or potential mate and female sea snakes perceiving a diver as a potential hiding location. By staying still and permitting a sea snake to examine them with its tongue, a scuba diver is not likely to intensify the encounter and be bitten, according to the authors.