Indicating a habitat shift of marine species due to climatic change, a rare black-banded sea snake was found washed ashore on a local beach here in the south Indian state Kerala capital.
The reptile, with 30 cm length and a 'U' mark in its head, was identified as the Malacca Sea Snake, scientifically known as 'Hydrophis caerulescens'.
Though the snake species is largely found in the western coast between Mumbai and Karwar and from Chennai coast in the east to northwards till the mouth of Ganges, it has not been sighted in Kerala coast as per the recorded documents, city zoologists said.
According R Dileepkumar, a research scholar at the Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, the sight of the sea snake variety in Kerala might be the result of habitat shift.
"Due to the ill-effects of global warming and climate changes, aquatic species are forced to move from their natural habitats. The spotting of sea snake in Kerala coast is may be because of that," he said.
The species was first spotted by some evening strollers who came to the beach on Tuesday. The snake was caught with the help of a charmer and later handed over to the Department of Zoology. It is now kept in a bowl of sea water, sources said.
According to experts, sea snakes are more venomous than cobras and kraits. Neurotoxin contents in its venom can act on the nerve cells of the victims and paralyse his respiratory
system.
Considering the risk, fishermen who accidental get seasnake in their nets free them back to the sea, sources said.