In this episode of Ocean Pod, Dr Nina Wootton and Professor Bronwyn Gillanders learn about some of the ocean’s most specialised and least understood reptiles - sea snakes.

They are joined by Dr Jenna Crowe-Riddell, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Adelaide, whose research explores how sea snake brains and sensory systems have evolved for life underwater. Jenna unpacks the remarkable sensory “toolkit” that allows sea snakes to navigate, hunt, and survive in the marine environment, from their unique adaptations to their often misunderstood behaviours.

The conversation also touches on why sea snakes are so frequently overlooked in discussions of marine wildlife, the ecological roles they play, and the challenges they face in a rapidly changing ocean.

Plus, in this week’s Tide Talk, Nina and Bronwyn chat about what’s been making waves in ocean science recently.

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Get in touch: nina.wootton@adelaide.edu.au