Although sea snakes are important predators in coral reef ecosystems and have undergone substantial population declines in some areas, we have little robust information on life histories of these animals. Based on a 17-yr mark–recapture study of turtle-headed sea snakes (Emydocephalus annulatus) in New Caledonia (> 1200 individuals marked), we can confidently allocate ages to 539 individuals (1–11 yr of age). Using data for those snakes, we describe patterns of growth and reproduction. Using the entire data set, we also estimate annual rates of survival. One to three large offspring (300 mm snout–vent length [SVL]) are born after a prolonged (8-month) gestation. The young snakes grow rapidly until they are about 2 yr old (500 mm SVL), after which growth slows, especially in males. Most females begin reproducing at 3 yr of age, and they produce a litter (typically of two offspring) in about 2 out of every 3 or 4 yr thereafter. Annual survival rates are around 70%, but some individuals live for more than a decade. Overall, the life history of this species involves rapid growth and early maturation, followed by low but sustained reproductive output. Despite their relatively recent evolutionary origin, hydrophiine sea snakes are remarkably diverse in life histories as well as in morphologies and diets. Hence, even closely related taxa may differ substantially in their vulnerability to threatening processes.

中文翻译：

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基于 17 年研究的海蛇 Emydocephalus annulatus 的生活史特征

尽管海蛇是珊瑚礁生态系统中的重要捕食者，并且在某些地区经历了数量大幅下降，但我们对这些动物的生活史几乎没有可靠的信息。基于对新喀里多尼亚龟头海蛇 (Emydocephalus annulatus) 的 17 年标记-重新捕获研究（标记了 > 1200 只个体），我们可以自信地将年龄分配给 539 只个体（1-11 岁）。使用这些蛇的数据，我们描述了生长和繁殖的模式。使用整个数据集，我们还估计了年生存率。一到三个大型后代（300 毫米鼻子-排气口长度 [SVL]）在长时间（8 个月）妊娠后出生。幼蛇生长迅速，直到大约 2 岁（500 毫米 SVL），之后生长减慢，尤其是雄性。大多数雌性在 3 岁时开始繁殖，并且它们之后每 3 年或 4 年中大约有 2 年产一窝（通常是两个后代）。年存活率约为 70%，但有些人的寿命超过十年。总体而言，该物种的生活史包括快速生长和早熟，其次是低但持续的繁殖产量。尽管它们的进化起源相对较新，但亲水海蛇在生活史以及形态和饮食方面非常多样化。因此，即使是密切相关的分类群，它们对威胁过程的脆弱性也可能大不相同。其次是低但持续的生殖产出。尽管它们的进化起源相对较新，但亲水海蛇在生活史以及形态和饮食方面非常多样化。因此，即使是密切相关的分类群，它们对威胁过程的脆弱性也可能大不相同。其次是低但持续的生殖产出。尽管它们的进化起源相对较新，但亲水海蛇在生活史以及形态和饮食方面非常多样化。因此，即使是密切相关的分类群，它们对威胁过程的脆弱性也可能大不相同。