Hydrophis lapemoides

Hydrophis lapemoides is a species of snake in the family Elapidae known commonly as the Persian Gulf sea snake.[2] This sea snake is native to the Indian Ocean from the Persian Gulf to the coasts of Thailand.[1]

Hydrophis lapemoides
subadult

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Hydrophis
Species:
H. lapemoides
Binomial name
Hydrophis lapemoides
(Gray, 1849)

Distribution

This species occurs along the coasts of Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.[1]

Description

The adult can reach 110 centimeters in length. The body is yellow, olive, or gray in color, paler on the sides and belly, with olive to black banding. The juvenile has a yellow mark on the head. The tail is flattened.[3]

Biology

This snake feeds on fish. It is sometimes caught as bycatch in fishing operations.[1] It is a marine species but it can enter and dwell in freshwater bodies for extended periods of time.[3] It is a venomous species.[2] This is a common and widespread species, but little is known about its biology.[1] During the mating season for this species it is not uncommon for sailors to see thousands of Hydrophis lapemoides sea snakes on the surface of the sea. Where Dolphin pods are seen, these masses of sea snakes are not noted, and it is suspected that the Dolphin is a natural predator of H. lapemoides.

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References
  1. Rasmussen, A., Sanders, K. & Lobo, A. 2010. Hydrophis lapemoides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 15 March 2016.
  2. Hydrophis lapemoides. Reptile Database.
  3. Hydrophis lapemoides. Armed Forces Pest Management Board. U.S. Army Garrison - Forest Glen.

Bibliography
  • Bussarawitt, S., Rasmussen, A. R., & Andersen, M. 1989. A preliminary study on sea snakes (Hydrophiidae) from Phuket Harbor, Phuket Island, Thailand. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc., Bangkok 37(2): 209–225.
  • Rasmussen, A. R. 1993. The status of the Persian Gulf sea snake Hydrophis lapemoides (Gray 1849) (Serpentes: Hydrophiidae) [includes a redescription]. Bull. nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (zool.) 59(2): 97-105.


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