katuali

{{Speciesbox

| name = Katuali

| image = Sea Snake Niue.jpg

| image_caption = Laticauda schystorhyncha in Niue

| status = VU

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{Cite iucn|author=Lane A, Guinea M|title=Laticauda schistorhynchus |volume=2010|page=e.T176740A7294814|date=2010|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176740A7294814.en}}

| genus = Laticauda

| species = schistorhyncha

| authority = (Günther, 1874)

| synonyms = *Platurus schistorhynchus
{{small|Günther, 1874}}

Laticauda semifasciata schistorhynchus
{{small|— Guinea, 1994}}
Laticauda schistorhyncha
{{small|— Welch, 1994}}
Pseudolaticauda schistorhynchus
{{small|— Kharin, 2005}}
Laticauda schistorhyncha
{{small|— Heatwole et al., 2017}}

| synonyms_ref ="Laticauda schistorhyncha ". The Reptile Database. http://www.reptile-database.org.

}}

The katuali or flat-tail sea snake (Laticauda schistorhyncha) is a species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae. The species is found only in the waters of the Pacific Islands nation of Niue.

Description

L. schistorhyncha grows to a total length (including tail) of up to {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and is highly venomous, making it one of the most potentially dangerous creatures on the planet. It has a fin-like tail, helping it to swim better.[http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/intro.html Homepage]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118183100/http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/intro.html |date=2006-11-18 }}[http://perso.orange.fr/hibiscustour/fondoc-b.htm fondoc b-->]

Habitat

The katuali lives most of its adult life in the sea.

Reproduction

During mating, the male katuali wraps itself around the female until she is fertilized. Because the eggs would not survive in water, the female swims into a sea cave to lay the eggs in dry crevices. These eggs take six months to hatch, and then the infant snakes make their way to the ocean.Gunton M (producer) (2009). Life. United Kingdom: BBC.

katuali

Description

Habitat

Reproduction

References

Further reading