Olive sea snakes attack divers for no reason during mating season, scientists: treat divers as courtship objects
Sea snakes generally do not actively attack humans, but during the sea snake mating season, divers often report unprovoked attacks by sea snakes, including chases and bites. The causes of these attacks are unclear, but new research suggests that sea snakes may mistake divers for potential mates.
Professor Rick Shine and colleagues in Macquarie University's Department of Biological Sciences analyzed data collected between 1994 and 1995 that described the behavior of divers encountering olive sea snakes while diving on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
The researchers found that out of 158 encounters, 74 sea snakes approached divers, and the condition was more frequent during the mating season (May to August). Males are more approachable to divers than females, especially during mating season, and flick their tongues near the diver's body. Thirteen encounters involved sea snakes rushing toward divers.
The researchers observed that all events occurred during the mating season, with events involving males occurring after failing to chase females or interacting with male competitors. In addition, three males were observed coiling around the diver's fins, a behavior often observed during courtship. Female sea snakes approach divers again after being chased or out of sight by male sea snakes.
Previous studies have shown that sea snakes have a hard time identifying shapes in water. Researchers believe that sea snake attacks may be due to male sea snakes mistaking divers for competitors or potential mates, while female sea snakes see divers as potential hiding places. According to the authors, divers stayed put and let sea snakes investigate with their tongues, making it less likely that the encounter would escalate and be bitten.
Professor Shine said: "The ocean is a dangerous place for humanity – if something goes wrong, things can end badly. And seeing a giant sea snake rushing towards you, of course, can be called "Something went wrong." ”。
Hopefully, understanding why that snake is coming toward you — it mistakes you for a female of its own species — will calm you down and lead to better results. #奇妙的动物 #
