"Snorkeling grandmothers" reveal a large population of deadly sea snakes in a popular bay

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(CNN Spanish) - Seven grandmothers who swim with snorkeling have helped scientists discover a large population of poisonous sea snakes in a New Caledonia bay popular with cruise ship residents and passengers.

“Fantastic grandmothers,” as they call themselves, have worked with scientists from the University of New Caledonia and the University of Macquarie, Australia, since June 2017. All, aged between 60 and 70, are snorkeling enthusiasts. and they offered to photograph the deadly sea snakes.

His research showed that there was a much larger population of sea snakes ( Hydrophis major ) than previously thought in Baie Des Citrons, a known swimming spot in the capital of the South Pacific archipelago. The findings were published in the Ecosphere magazine.

In a statement published by the University of Macquarie, Claire Goiran, principal and scientific researcher at the University of New Caledonia, said: “I have been studying sea snakes at the Baie des Citrons for 20 years and I thought I understood them very well, but the Fantastic grandmothers have shown me how wrong I was. ”

He praised the energy of the grandmothers and added that “they have transformed our understanding of the abundance and ecology of sea snakes in this system. It is a great pleasure and privilege to work with them. ”

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Rick Shine, a professor at Macquarie University, co-author of the article, told CNN that the growing participation of members of the public in research was "one of the most exciting new developments in science."

Citing the special experience of some members of the public, he added: "Fantastic grandmothers are a powerful example: they have illuminated the ecology of sea snakes, in a way we could never have imagined until they arrived on the scene."

There were only six sightings of this species in the area between 2004 and 2012. Although at the end of 2016 45 individuals had been sighted, the photographs taken by the grandmothers and Goiran recorded more than 140 larger sea snakes between October 2016 and November 2018 .

Scientists say this is a remarkable number of poisonous snakes for a reef of less than 35 hectares. As there have been no reports of humans who have been bitten by these snakes, Shine described them as having a "benevolent disposition."

Lethally toxic species can grow to more than 1.5 meters in length. People can be easily recognized due to their unique patterns.

According to Goiran, this project also provided more new information on reptile reproduction patterns and the number of their offspring than any previous study on a related species.

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