Ode To A Sea Snake

“Beyond the shadow of the ship,

I watched the water-snakes:

They moved in tracks of shining white,

And when they reared, the elfish light

Fell off in hoary flakes.

Within the shadow of the ship

I watched their rich attire:

Blue, glossy green, and velvet black,

They coiled and swam; and every track

Was a flash of golden fire.

O happy living things! No tongue

Their beauty might declare:

A spring of love gushed from my heart,

And I blessed them unaware:

Sure my kind saint took pity on me,

And I blessed them unaware.

The self-same moment I could pray;

And from my neck so free

The Albatross fell off, and sank

Like lead into the sea.”

                               - The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Sea snakes are the creatures that brought a chance at redemption to the mariner in Coleridge’s poem, “The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner”. It was the deed of appreciating their beauty that liberated him from the weight of his sins. As the mariner conveys in the poem, no description of these snakes can truly do them justice. Different species of sea snakes vary in colours and patterns. Many have alternating rings of black, red, grey, white or blue. Some have a single colour adorning their bodies. Their length ranges from four feet to nine feet depending on the species. These snakes are closely related to cobras and though they have adapted to marine environments, in other ways, still use lungs to breathe. This mean they have to come up to the surface for air occasionally. They can then dive down to a depth of 300 feet and stay without breathing for half an hour. They have valves that keep their nostrils covered under water. Research shows that their skin has adapted to aquatic life such that it can absorb small amounts of oxygen directly from the water. They have laterally flattened bodies and a paddle shaped tail that functions as an oar when the snakes swim. The mesmerising, undulating motion of their bodies propels them in water. They also have specialized sub-lingual glands that help in secreting excess salt from their bodies. When they stick their tongues out, the gland secrets a substance that has a high concentration of sodium chloride. One of the most incredible things about these snakes is their venom which is in the same class as some of the most potent and powerful venom found in the natural world. Their prey, consisting of fish, fish eggs, crustaceans and molluscs, feel the effects of the venom immediately. An enzyme is also secreted that starts the process of digestion as the prey is being swallowed. What is even more incredible than their potent venom is their docile and timid nature. They rarely bite people and bite only when provoked, though it is said that most people don’t even realize they've been bitten till the symptoms start to show. They only use the venom for defence and to eat. Like most animals (other than humans) they kill only when necessary. This docile nature, in spite of being equipped with deadly venom, is where their beauty lies. 

Banded Krait