Spectacled sea snake

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The spectacled sea snake (Hydrophis kingii), also known commonly as King's sea snake, is species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae.[1][2] The species is native to waters off northern Australia and the southern coast of New Guinea.[1][3]

Spectacled sea snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Hydrophis
Species:
H. kingii
Binomial name
Hydrophis kingii
Boulenger, 1896
Synonyms[2]

Disteira kingii (Boulenger, 1896)

Etymology

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The specific name, kingii, is in honor of Australian marine surveyor Philip Parker King.[4]

Description

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H. kingii usually attains a total length (including tail) of not more than 1.9 m (6.2 ft). The head is black, and a there is a white ring around the eye. The anterior chin shields are in contact with the mental groove. The dorsal scales are keeled, and overlapping.[5]

Habitat

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The preferred natural habitat of H. kingii is marine waters, to a depth of 22 m (72 ft), with a muddy or sandy bottom.[1]

Diet

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H. kingii preys upon small fishes.[1]

Reproduction

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H. kingii is ovoviviparous.[2]

Venom

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H. kingii is dangerously venomous.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Milton, D.; Courtney, T.; Guinea, M.; Lukoschek, V.; Fletcher, E. (2010). "Hydrophis kingii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T176761A7299189. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176761A7299189.en. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Hydrophis kingii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Species Hydrophis kingii (Boulenger, 1896)". Australian Faunal Directory. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  4. ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Disteira kingii, p. 141).
  5. ^ a b Wilson S, Swan G (2023). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Sixth Edition. Sydney: Reed New Holland Publishers. 688 pp. ISBN 978-1-92554-671-2. (Hydrophis kingii, pp. 656–657).

Further reading

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  • Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Hydrophis kingii, new species, pp. 276–277).
  • Cogger HG (2018). Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia, Updated Seventh Edition. Clayton South, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxxii + 1,060 pp. ISBN 978-1486309696. (Hydrophis kingii, p. 962).
  • Smith M (1926). Monograph of the Sea-Snakes (Hydrophiidæ). London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xx + 130 pp. + Plates I–II. ("Hydrophis kingi [sic]", pp. 46–47).