Deadly sea snake with huge fangs and no anti-venom washes up ALIVE on Sydney beach 3,000kms from its natural habitat... as experts warn NEVER to touch them

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A highly venomous sea snake washed up alive on a beach in Sydney - thousands of kilometres from where it is normally found.

A one and a half metre long Stokes' sea snake - which is known to live in the tropical waters of Western Australian, Queensland and the Northern Territory - washed up in Manly Cove last week, much to the surprise of local resident Carole Douglas.

The formidable marine snake, whose fangs are long enough to pierce a wetsuit, is highly venomous and with no known anti venom, the large ocean serpent is capable of delivering a painful and fatal bite. 

A one and a half metre long Stokes' sea snake - which is known to live in the tropical waters of Western Australian, Queensland and the Northern Territory - washed up in Manly Cove last week

Ms Douglas was walking along the shoreline at Manly Cove when she found the large sea serpent laying motionless and covered in barnacles on the sand. 

Not knowing if the creamy white and grey snake was venomous, Ms Douglas contacted experts from the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary to remove him from the beach. 

Sharnie Connell, from the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary, said someone would have to be 'very lucky to survive' a bite from a Stoke's sea snake.  

'They are highly venomous and people should not approach or touch them,' she told the Daily Telegraph. 

The formidable marine snake, whose fangs are long enough to pierce a wetsuit, is highly venomous and with no known anti venom, the large ocean serpent is capable of delivering a painful and fatal bite 

Ms Douglas was walking along the shoreline at Manly Cove when she found the large sea serpent laying motionless on the sand

Not knowing if the creamy white and grey snake was venomous, Ms Douglas contacted experts from the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary to remove it from the beach

The bulky snake is among the largest marine serpents, growing up to two metres long and around 26 centimetres in girth

It is not known how far the Stokes' sea snake travelled to reach Sydney, however he managed to survive the ordeal and is now being cared for at the sanctuary.

Hope from Manly Sea Life Sanctuary told Ms Douglas that while the snake is 'not out of the woods' he is definitely on the mend.  

'He is now rehydrated and as you will notice he has sloughed the majority of the barnacles off with only the small number around his head remaining. 

'At this stage he is still not feeding but we are hopeful that things are looking up for this animal.' 

She said his colour had returned and his 'beautifully patterned skin' was now visible. 

Hope from Manly Sea Life Sanctuary told Ms Douglas that while the snake is 'not out of the woods' he is definitely on the mend

Ms Douglas said she was planning on visiting 'Stokie' on Wednesday.  

The bulky snake is among the largest marine serpents, growing up to two metres long and around 26 centimetres in girth.

The marine predators eat fish and although they need to return to the surface to breathe, Stokes' sea snakes can spend between 30 minutes and two hours underwater. 

Interestingly, sea snakes like the Stokes' need to shed their skin every two to six weeks and will use coral or other abrasive surfaces to loosen the skin by rubbing their lips against it. 

Marine experts used a large metal hook to pick up the highly venemous Stokes sea snake

It is not known how far the snake travelled to reach Sydney, however it managed to survive the ordeal and is now being cared for at the sanctuary

The marine predators eat fish and although they need to return to the surface to breathe, Stokes' sea snakes can spend between 30 minutes and two hours underwater

The Stokes' sea snake is known to live in the tropical waters of Western Australian, Queensland and the Northern Territory