How Water Keeps Sea Snakes Out of the Atlantic

You’d think that animals adapted to life in the open ocean would ignore arbitrary distinctions like ‘Pacific’ and ‘Atlantic.’ But they don’t. Or, at least, this month’s Bizarre Beasts, the sea snakes, don’t… Because, despite being well-adapted for life at sea, there are no sea snakes in the Atlantic Ocean.

Follow us on socials:
#BizarreBeasts #seasnake #snakes
-----
Sources:

------
Images:

[ithrangroenen]

Yellow bellied sea snake sounds like a pirate insult

[Nikki]

The first time I heard about sea snakes was watching Steve Irwin. He talked about how highly venomous they were while holding one. I think I was like 10 or 11 at the time, but I remember thinking "that seems insane." Miss that dude.

[pauls]

amazing! I thought if it were temperature tolerance, eventually some would traverse the current and setup in the south Atlantic, but I never thought about needing fresh floating rainwater to survive

[davidarredondo]

That plot twist at the end that all sea snakes need to drink freshwater to survive had me reeling. Freshwater pools floating on top of the ocean? There’s clearly a lot for me to learn.

[safaiaryu]

Okay, awesome episode in general, but I had never heard about fresh water floating on top of ocean water?! Like, it totally makes sense, especially with underwater lakes being a thing... sometimes water can kind of stratify based on salinity/density... but dang! Rain water floating on top of the ocean to provide fresh water to sea animals! I never thought of that! How neat!

[jp]

As someone from Puerto Rico, I am thankful that there are no sea snakes in the Atlantic Ocean. We have enough problems without encountering a venomous snake while chilling at the beach.

[LeoStaley]

As someone who lives in a desert, it's really easy for me to forget just how often it rains in other places, especially on the ocean and in the tropics.

[Basement_crusader]

The only reason I tolerate snakes is because I can quickly walk away from them. I cannot swim as fast as I walk. I do not tolerate sea snakes.

[gradesam]

they're tiny limbless elasmosaurus

[brandondavidson]

It's interesting how much ocean currents act like mountains on land, as physical barriers

[v_wegs]

So interesting, as usual! You answered all the questions I had about sea snakes, very well written

[Clawed]

This channel has to be one of the greatest things Youtube has ever suggested to anyone, I feel. great content!

[RickySTT]

6:09 The Panama Canal is powered by an uphill reservoir, so that water flows outward at both ends. I image this would discourage species from crossing the isthmus.

[Coral_skies]

Sea SNAAAAKES! I LOVE SEA SNAKES! Bizzare Beasts never misses with the animals they pick! Y'all finally got me to sign up for the pins with this one!

[rianfelis]

You mentioned Panama and the trouble with South Africa, but what keeps them from expanding into the Red Sea, and from there through the Suez Canal?

[ThatJaymsWisdom]

I always say that this channel is the best thing on the internet, and that remains true, but this video is amazing! Probably one of the best!

[TsubasayaYami]

Damn what an awesome pin this month!
Unfortunately, just like sea snakes, pins have a hard time crossing the atlantic

[Fede_]

The fact that in the Eocene there used to be giant marine snakes called Palaeophids (unrelated to living ones as they were not venomous) which in some species could reach around 10 meters and maybe even more amazes me so much.

[aaroncoff]

I once found a dead yellow bellied sea snake washed up on the gulf coast of the Florida panhandle. Must have gotten through the Panama Canal.

[ami-scuba-diver]

I dove with hundreds of sea snakes in Manuk island, Banda sea, Indonesia. They are beautiful and majestic - love them. I saw them coming up to the surface to breath. Didn’t know they drink fresh water. Great post.