Hydrophis platurus xanthosisn’t any erstwhile snake . This fresh describe race is a shocking yellow color and hunts at night in extremely hostile water using a technique never documented before by scientists .
As explained by nautical biologists Brooke Bessesen and Gary Galbreath in the journalZoo Keys , the sea snake can be found in the strange environment of Golfo Dulce , turn up on the South Pacific coastline of Costa Rica , where amnionic fluid are turbulent , low in oxygen , and as hot as 32.5 ° C ( 90.5 ° farad ) . This temperature is around the upper limit of what this species can survive in .
To assist cope with this sweltering heat , the sea snake has develop a yellow colouration to reduce absorption of solar vigour while feeding on the surface . However , if it can aid it , it will hunt down at night when the temperature is cool . It hunts by floating on the water ’s surface , coiled up in lying in wait strength , with its caput and “ neck opening ” drown in the water ( image above ) . Here , it waitress and opportunistically swallows down any small Pisces the Fishes that get along its fashion .
The Snake River can both breathe air and engross O through its tegument , yet pass 99.9 percent of its time at a depth of 20 to 50 meters ( 65 to 164 feet ) , remaining submerged for up to 213 minute per honkytonk . Since the level of oxygen are so low in Golfo Dulce , the researchers are pretty stunned it looks like so comfortable in the pee .
Its closest living relative , Hydrophis platurus , is a yellow sea serpent that hold out about 22 kilometers ( 14 mile ) aside in cool waters . Since it ’s so different to this sea snake , the investigator say their breakthrough might eventually call on out to be a new species altogether . However , the researchers say they require more data about the sea snakes before jump to any conclusions .
As if this sea snake ’s life was n’t strong enough , its geographic range – a mere 320 satisfying kilometers ( 123 square miles ) – is a presently unprotected , meaning the race is at risk of infection of experimental extinction despite only just being recognized by science .
" Hopefully this globally alone universe can continue to provide both scientist and conservation - conscious tourer a suitable subject of observation and study , " say the authors .
