yellow lipped sea krait
yellow lipped sea krait Lexical Profile
• noun
A species of highly venomous amphibious snake (Laticauda colubrina) native to tropical Indo-Pacific waters, characterized by distinctive black and pale blue bands and a yellowish upper lip or snout.
"While scuba diving in the coral reefs of Indonesia, the marine biologists observed a yellow-lipped sea krait hunting for eels among the rocks."
Word Nuance & Usage
Usually hyphenated as 'yellow-lipped sea krait' in formal writing. It refers to an amphibious species that, unlike true sea snakes, must return to land to digest food, mate, and lay eggs.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name describes its distinct physical characteristics (yellow markings on the snout or upper lip) and its habitat (sea). The word 'krait' comes from Hindi 'karait', a name used for venomous elapid snakes in Asia.