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Hydrophis - Sonnini & Latreille, 1802

Pronunciation: hi-DROH-fiss
Etymology: 'water snake'.

Taxonomic notes:

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Live-bearing - 10 out of 10 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: dwarf sea snake (Hydrophis caerulescens) at 80 cm
 Longest Australian species: elegant sea snake (Hydrophis elegans) at up to 200 cm
Number of Australian species: 10
 

No thumbnail available black-headed sea snake (Hydrophis atriceps) distribution range map Hydrophis atriceps
Black-headed sea snake
Year described
Günther 1864
Description

No thumbnail available Belcher's sea snake (Hydrophis belcheri) distribution range map Hydrophis belcheri
Belcher's sea snake
Year described
(Gray 1849)
Description

No thumbnail available dwarf sea snake (Hydrophis caerulescens) distribution range map Hydrophis caerulescens
Dwarf sea snake
Year described
(Shaw 1802)
Description

No thumbnail available slender-necked sea snake (Hydrophis coggeri) distribution range map Hydrophis coggeri
Slender-necked sea snake
Year described
(Kharin 1984)
Description

geometrical sea snake (Hydrophis czeblukovi)
Broome, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
geometrical sea snake (Hydrophis czeblukovi) distribution range map Hydrophis czeblukovi
Geometrical sea snake
Year described
(Kharin 1984)
Description

rough-scaled sea snake (Hydrophis donaldi)
Weipa, Queensland
Photo © Kanishka Dimithra Bandara Ukuwela
rough-scaled sea snake (Hydrophis donaldi) distribution range map Hydrophis donaldi
Rough-scaled sea snake
Year described
Ukuwela, Sanders & Fry 2012
Description
In life, "yellowish brown with 56 brownish bands from neck to tail. Bands are broader dorsally, narrow laterally and taper without connecting ven- trally. They are wider than the paler interspaces. Bands in first third of body are darker in colour than rest of the body. Head is pale brown in colour."1

elegant sea snake (Hydrophis elegans)
Weipa, Queensland
Photo © Ray Lloyd
elegant sea snake (Hydrophis elegans) distribution range map Hydrophis elegans
Elegant sea snake
Year described
(Gray 1842)
Description

No thumbnail available small-headed sea snake (Hydrophis macdowelli) distribution range map Hydrophis macdowelli
Small-headed sea snake
Year described
Kharin 1983
Description

No thumbnail available ocellated sea snake (Hydrophis ocellatus) distribution range map Hydrophis ocellatus
Ocellated sea snake
Year described
Gray 1849
Description

No thumbnail available large-headed sea snake (Hydrophis pacificus) distribution range map Hydrophis pacificus
Large-headed sea snake
Year described
Boulenger 1896
Description

References
  1. Ukuwela, K.D.B.; Sanders, K.L.; & Fry, B.G. (2012). Hydrophis donaldi (Elapidae, Hydrophiinae), a highly distinctive new species of sea snake from northern Australia. Zootaxa, 3201:45-57.
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