If you have been approached by a sea snake while diving on the Great Barrier Reef, a new study says you can take it as a compliment.
The joint paper — that was released today by researchers from the CSIRO, Macquarie University and James Cook University — analysed hundreds of hours of data from the 1990s to observe the behaviour of olive sea snakes (Aipsyurus laevis).
The researchers found that most of the 160 encounters they reviewed involved male snakes during mating season.
They concluded that many of the attacks stemmed from misunderstood serpentine courting practices.
Female snakes not as keen
Co-author Professor Emeritus Ross Alford said the root of the problem was that males were desperate for female attention.
"Females probably spend more of their time actually down in among the corals and things because they really don't want to be courted that much.
On the other hand, Professor Alford said, males were extremely keen.
"During mating season, they spend a lot of time patrolling the water above the reef. When they find a female, they try [to] court her," he said.
Blinded by love
Professor Alford said the issue was exacerbated by the serpents' poor vision.
"When they see a diver, they don't seem to know how far away it is," he said.
"They approach divers and they tongue-flick them and — if a diver holds still and doesn't move — the snake typically just goes away again after a while because he realises that it's not a female snake."
Let it investigate … with its tongue
He said people who were approached by snakes in the ocean should remain still, and let the reptile assess them.
"Very quietly, just tread water. Don't panic, stay still, don't attack the snake. It's just going to check you out and go away," Professor Alford said.
