If you ’re scared of Snake River it might be wise to to avoid Baie des Citrons , New Caledonia : the pop diving spot is live with venomous greater sea snakes ( Hydrophis major ) . Not everyone is bothered by their mien , however . We only know this thanks to a chemical group of cleaning woman in their 60s and 70s who have supplied scientist with photographs of their close encounters .
Dr Claire Goiranfrom the University of New Caledonia andProfessor Rick Shinefrom Australia ’s Macquarie University have been studying the turtle - head ocean Snake River at Baie des Citrons for 15 eld . Among their discovery is that dark patches in the tegument absorb overweight metals , which the ophidian ditch when it sheds its skin , and that the Snake have beengrowing darkerin reaction to rising pollution .
While canvass their small , non - venomous and rough-cut subjects , Goiran and Shine also saw greater sea snakes , which can acquire to 1.5 meters ( 5 ft ) , in the same water system ; however , only about six prison term . Even when they soughtH. majorspecifically , they only get wind about 10 a twelvemonth . The snorkeling cleaning lady bring off to find 250 .
Monique Mazière of the fantastic grandmothers photograph sea snake number 79 , dub Déborah . Claire Goiran / UNC
Professional biologist ca n’t be everywhere at once , so they are progressively forebode on the help of amateur to keep rail of the populations they are trying to study . Few , however , have had the help of as unusual a group as Goiran and Shine turned to . The seven woman , who swim in the bay regularly telephone themselves the “ fantastic grandmothers ” start taking photographic camera into the water supply and sent photographs of any great sea snakes they run across to the scientist .
Helpfully , greater ocean Snake River grading are so distinctive individuals can be identified easily . Goiran and Shine pile up an record album of 249 snakes , far more than anyone anticipated frequented the waters .
The seasonal nature of the ophidian ’s rearing form has been published inEcosphere . Goiran claims this exceeds our knowledge of any of its closemouthed relatives .
“ Remarkably , ” Shine said in astatement , “ they found a enceinte number of lethally toxic sea snakes in a small Laurus nobilis that is occupied every day by horde of local residents and cruise?ship passengers – yet no pungency by the species have ever been record at Baie des Citrons , testifying to their benevolent disposition . ”
While it is certainly unadvisable to go up an unknown venomous ophidian , Shine say IFLScience even the greater sea snake ’s relation maybe still . “ I hear muckle of stories about “ aggressive ” sea snakes from loon , but I ’ve never go steady anything from sea snakes ( of any species ) except curiosity . In winter , when the males are searching for females , they will often approach us close and tongue - flick us to make certain we are n’t female Snake … but as soon as they ferment that out , they float aside , ” he enunciate .
Shine tell IFLScience the team has yet to investigate if the greater ocean snakes are also make saturnine in response to contamination , but he thinks their greater range may reduce exposure .
snake in the grass hunting watch extraordinaire Geneviève Briançon , Aline Guémas , Monique Zannier , Monique Mazière , Sylvie Hébert , Cathy Le Bouteiller and Marilyn Sarocchi . Claire Goiran / UNC
