Rare sea snake washes up at Hat Head

It is believed to be a beaked sea snake and is around two metres long. 

The area where the snake was found – the breakout – the beach access was washed away during the last storm event a month ago and there is now a three metre vertical drop on the ocean side.

“We drove to the Breakout and as I walked around the barrier I saw the apparently dead sea snake curled up in the grass. It was almost two metres long,” Mr Holborow said. 

“How this one got from the ocean, across the sandhills and into the grass is the mystery.”

Diana Woodward of FAWNA said it was pretty unusual for it to be this far down the coast.

The snake is typically found in tropical seas within the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland. 

“I suspect its came down in the warm currents from the topics,” she said.  

Even though the snake is dead she said it can still be deadly and the best thing to do is not to touch it. 

“Whatever the type of sea snake they are all venomous alive or dead – alive if they bite you and dead if you touch the head or if the head is crushed in any way or the venom sack is pierced – if the venom gets into any broken skin you could die. 

“Just don’t touch it is my advice.” 

According to Australian Geographic, the beaked sea snake's venom contains a highly toxic dose of neurotoxins and myotoxins.

A single bite can result in paralysis and muscle damage within six hours and delivers enough venom (7.9-9mg) to kill five adults.

Previously thought to be one single species, it is now considered to be two species: one from Asia and one from Australia.