These endangered sea snakes have been evolving separately for up to 950,000 years, study finds

Coastal and offshore populations of endangered Aipysurus sea snakes have followed separate evolutionary paths for hundreds of thousands of years. Researchers found genetic and morphological differences between the groups across four of five co-distributed lineages. The populations were separated for up to 950,000 years, with coastal snakes having longer bodies, more vertebrae, and lighter colour patterns than those living on offshore reefs.