[VIRAL] Highly-Venomous Sea Snake Stranded on Queensland, Terrifying Beachgoers

Enormous sea snake washed up on the shore of a Queensland beach, and beachgoers were present to witness this terrifying moment.

A picture posted on the Australian Native Animals Facebook page on Sunday, shows the sea snake coming out from the surf at Wild Cattle Beach in Tannum Sands, it was reported that a local picked the sea snake up by its tail and threw it back into the ocean.

Facebook Users Reacts to the Incident

Members of the Facebook page made a speculation that the specie was the highly venomous 'Elegant Sea Snake' which can develop up to two metres long and can usually be seen off the coast of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

The picture brought up mixed reactions online, with some facebook users posting comments saying the local shouldn't have thrown the snake back into the water.

One user commented saying it was not a good idea to just throw them back. Another user posted that putting it back was not a good idea, and they only come to shore if they are ill or injured.

Also Read: Rare, Highly Venomous Sea Snake Found in Iranian Coastal Waters

Gympie Snake Catcher Advises the Public

Gympie Snake Catcher made a post, warning members of the public to stay away from the highly venomous reptilian by maintaining a safe distance and not come in contact with them or take them back to the water because they are likely to wash back to shore.

Beachgoers are encouraged to alert a local snake catcher, 1300ANIMAL or local wildlife rescue to report sightings of helpless sea snake.

Sea snake, any of over 60 species of highly venomous marine snakes of the cobra family - Elapidae. The true sea snakes - subfamily Hydrophiinae, related to Australian terrestrial elapids, and the sea kraits - subfamily Laticaudinae, related to the Asian cobras are the two independently evolved groups.

Although the venom of these species is the most potent of all snakes, human casualties are uncommon and this is because sea snakes are not hostile, their venom output is little, and they possess short fangs.

Sea Snakes and Their Habitat

Of the 55 species of true sea snakes, most of the matured ones are about 3.3-5 feet (1-1.5 metres) long, though some of them might be 8.9 feet (2.7 metres) long.

They are normally found at the coastal areas of Indian and western Pacific oceans, excluding the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus), discovered in open ocean from Africa eastward across the Pacific to America's west coast.

All other species mainly inhabit in waters less than about 100 feet (30 metres) deep, because they must dive to the seafloor to get their food among mangroves, coral reefs, or on the foot of the ocean.

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