The Family Hydrophiidae consists of sea snakes, a group of highly specialized marine reptiles closely related to cobras. They are found mainly in the warm coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Hydrophiids are fully adapted to aquatic life, with flattened, paddle-like tails for swimming, laterally compressed bodies, and the ability to respire through their skin to extend dive times. Most are venomous, feeding primarily on fish and eels, and they give birth to live young in the water rather than laying eggs. Sea snakes play an important role in marine ecosystems as predators of fish, and some species are considered indicators of healthy coral reef environments.