Small-headed sea snake
| Small-headed sea snake | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Hydrophis |
| Species: | H. macdowelli
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| Binomial name | |
| Hydrophis macdowelli (Kharin, 1983)
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The small-headed sea snake (Hydrophis macdowelli), also known commonly as McDowell's sea snake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae. The species is native to waters off northern Australia.
Etymology
The specific name, macdowelli, is in honor of American herpetologist Samuel Booker McDowell Jr. [2]: 173
Geographic distribution
Hydrophis macdowelli is found along the northern coast of Australia, the south central coast of Papua New Guinea, the Loyalty Islands, and New Caledonia.[1]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Hydrophis macdowelli is shallow ocean waters with sandy bottoms, at depths of not more than 26 m (85 ft).[1]
Description
As one of its common names implies, Hydrophis macdowelli has a small head in relation to its body size. The species grows to a total length (tail included) of up to 1 metre (39 inches).[3]
Diet
Hydrophis macdowelli preys upon eels and other elongate fishes.[4]
Reproduction
Hydrophis macdowelli is ovoviviparous.[5] Litter size is 2–3 young.[4]
Venom
Hydrophis macdowelli posesses a powerful venom, and its bite is dangerous to humans.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Milton, D.; Courtney, T.; Guinea, M.; Lukoschek, V. (2010). "Hydrophis macdowelli ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T176745A7295853. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176745A7295853.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.
- ^ "Species Hydrophis macdowelli Kharin, 1983". Australian Faunal Directory. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
- ^ a b c Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2023). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Sixth Edition. Sydney: Reed New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1-92554-671-2. 688 pp. (Hydrophis macdowelli, pp. 656–657).
- ^ Species Hydrophis macdowelli at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
Further reading
- Cogger, H.G. (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 978-0643100350. xxx + 1,033 pp.
- Ineich, I.; Rasmussen, A.R. (1997). "Sea snakes from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands (Elapidae, Laticaudinae and Hydrophiinae)". Zoosystema. 19 (2–3): 185–192.
- Kharin, V.E. (1983). "[New species of genus Hydrophis sensu lato (Serpentes, Hydrophiidae) from North Australian Shelf]". Zoologicheskii Zhurnal. 62 (11): 1751–1753. (Hydrophis macdowelli, new species). (in Russian).
- Rasmussen, A.R.; Sanders, K.L.; Guinea, M.L.; Amey, A.P. (2014). "Sea snakes in Australian waters (Serpentes: subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae)—a review with an updated identification key". Zootaxa. 3869 (4): 351–371.