Miraculous ability of sea snakes

Scientists have discovered a species of sea snakes that can fast up to 7 months without any sip of fresh water, regardless of whether they live in a marine environment.

>>>The poisonous sea snake is deadly

Photo: Solent News

In fact, they did not drink seawater but could maintain dehydration until the first rains appeared. To draw that conclusion, during the three years biologists of the University of Florida (USA) tracked the golden belly snake in the waters off Costa Rica's Guanacaste province. This snake, about 70cm long, specializes in tropical waters, which can turn into "desert at sea" for water snakes in the dry season, according to Discovery magazine.

When the dry season arrives, can last up to 7 months, sea snakes will slowly dehydrate the body, resulting in them losing up to 25% of their body weight. Dehydration at this level was enough to kill people, according to team leader Harvey Lillywhite. However, Professor Lillywhite and colleagues found that even though they were thirsty, sea snakes did not touch the sea, contrary to the long-held belief that this vertebrate marine has evolved to Can drink salt water to maintain life.

That is why in the past, the sea snake community in some parts of the world has suffered a serious decline when the drought lasts. For example, in northern Australia, which has been in drought for a long time, the number of sea snakes has been continuously decreasing for 10 years and even two snakes have been deemed extinct.