Sea snakes of several different species belong to a group related to the cobras but aquatic rather than land dwelling. They are only moderately large, rarely exceeding 6 feet long, often with peculiarly small heads for their body. The body is compressed as an adaptation for swimming and the snakes are so thoroughly aquatic that they are either clumsy or helpless when brought ashore. Only genus Laticauda has the typical broad ventral scales of snakes, and it is often considered the least advanced of the sea snakes. Nevertheless, similar to cetaceans, their lungs still require them to surface occasionally to breathe.
