Why is the yellow-bellied sea snake rendered virtually helpless when found stranded on land?
Answer
Its belly scales are very small, forming a keel rather than broad ventral plates required for movement.
Morphologically, the yellow-bellied sea snake is perfectly engineered for its aquatic existence, which necessitates specific structural trade-offs. Crucially, its ventral scaling differs significantly from land snakes; instead of broad plates, the belly scales are minute and form a dorsal ridge or keel. This adaptation provides necessary stability while swimming in the water column. However, this structural arrangement completely hinders terrestrial movement. Lacking the necessary broad ventral scales for gripping or pushing effectively, a stranded specimen often rolls onto its sides, making effective movement on land impossible.
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