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Family : ELAPIDAE (Hydrophiinae)
Species : Hydrophis schistosus (Enhydrina schistosa)
Maximum Size : 1.6 metres
The Beaked Sea Snake (also called 'Hook-nosed Sea Snake') is considered to
be one of the most venomous in the genus Hydrophis.
The 'beak' refers to the extended rostral
scale (i.e. the scale above the nose) which hooks downwards over the mouth.
This snake has a robust body, which broadens posteriorly, and a short, thick tail.
The head is slightly wider than the anterior part of the body. The dorsum is
greyish in colour, and the ventrum is yellowish to cream. Faint dark
markings may be evident on the dorsum, which may form a series of narrow,
transverse bands.
A study undertaken in the Muar River, Johor,
Peninsular Malaysia, revealed a dietary preference
for sea catfishes (fork-tailed catfishes), supplemented by eel-tailed
catfishes and puffer fishes (Voris et al, 1978).
A mark-and-recapture study at the mouth of the same river, close to where it
empties into the Straits of Malacca, postulated that these muddy, tidal
waters may serve as
a nursery for young snakes, who appear to spend between 6 and 12 months in the
area before heading out to sea (Voris et al, 1983).
It is a widespread species of sea snake, which ranges from the Persian Gulf through parts
of the northern Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia to New Guinea and northern
Australia.
Fig 1 : Mating pair stranded on a beach at low tide on Penang Island.
Photo thanks to Helen Guy.
Figs 2 and 3 :
Example from the Straits of Malacca: the snake was landed as by-catch by
fishermen operating from the port of Teluk Bahang, on the island of
Penang, Peninsular Malaysia. Photos thanks to Luke Allen.
Fig 4 : Muar River estuary, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia with the Straits
of Malacca in the distance: this was the site of a successful
mark-and-recapture study of the Beaked Sea Snake in the 1980's (see Voris et al, 1983).
References :
Voris, H. K., Voris, H. H. & Jeffries, W. B. (1983). Sea snakes:
mark-release-recapture. Field Museum of Natural History Bulletin 54,
5-10.
Voris, H. K., Voris, H. H., & Liat, L. B. (1978). The food and feeding
behavior of a marine snake, Enhydrina schistosa (Hydrophiidae).
Copeia, 1978(1), 134-146.
Links :
Reptile Database |
