Laticauda

a genus of reptiles of the family Hydrophiidae (sea snakes). Unlike other sea snakes, the Laticauda have a trunk that is almost round in cross section and a tail that is somewhat laterally compressed. The snakes reach a length of 2 m. There are four species of Laticauda, distributed in the littoral zone of seas off southern and southeastern Asia (from the Bay of Bengal east to the Sea of Japan), northern Australia, and tropical Pacific islands. One species inhabits the brackish waters of Lake Tun-gano in the Solomon Islands.

Laticauda spend a large part of their lives on coral reefs or in the surf zone, where they lay their eggs. The snakes feed mainly on fishes, which they kill with a poison that is less toxic than that of other sea snakes. The most common species is L. laticauda, whose brilliant light blue body is marked with 25 to 50 broad black rings. The largest species, L. semifasciata, is commercially valuable in Japan for its skin and flesh. The flesh is used for food.