Animal with sea and coral varieties

SNAKE

["**Hint:** This slithering creature comes in types named after ocean habitats and a colorful, venomous reef-dweller.\n\n*(This hint references \"sea\" and \"coral\" indirectly while keeping the focus on the animal's characteristics.)*"]

The clue "Animal with sea and coral varieties" leads to the answer **"SNAKE"** through the following wordplay: 1. **"Sea snake"** – A type of venomous snake adapted to marine environments. 2. **"Coral snake"** – A brightly colored, venomous snake known for its distinctive red, yellow, and black banding. The clue cleverly hints at two well-known varieties of snakes (sea and coral) without directly naming them, guiding the solver to the general term **"SNAKE"** as the answer. The wordplay relies on the solver recognizing these specific types of snakes to deduce the broader category.