University of Zagreb. Faculty of Science. Department of Biology.
Abstract
U ovom radu sam pokušao opisati neke osobine morskih zmija, najbrojnijih gmazova u morima. Iako vrstama malobrojne (70) ove su se zmije dobro prilagodile staništima koje naseljavaju. Razvile su prilagodbe u ponašanju, fiziologiji i morfologiji koje nekima omogućuju gotovo potpuno akvatički način života, neovisan o kopnu, ali ovisan o zraku. Naseljavaju samo tropska područja i to gotovo isključivo Tihog oceana. Najbrojnije vrstama su oko Australije te Malezije i Indonezije.In this work I tried to describe some of marine snake characteristics, as they are the most numerous marine reptiles. Although not so rich species-wise (70), they have succeded in adapting to their respectible habitats. To do so they developed distinctive abilities - not only morphological and physiological but behavioral as well. They did it so well that some of them are almost fully aquatic, surfacing only to take some air. They live only in tropics and only in the Pacific ocean. Australia, Malasia and Indonesia are richest with marine snake species
