Chordates • Earth.com

Slender sea snake

(Hydrophis fasciatus)

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Description

The graceful small-headed sea snake or slender sea snake (Hydrophis gracilis) is a species of Elapidae (Hydrophiinae-sea snake). Microcephalophis gracilis is a synonym of the snake. Head small, body long and slender anteriorly; scales on thickest part of body juxtaposed; 5-6 maxillary teeth behind fangs; 17-21 scale rows around neck, 30-36 around thickest part of body (increase from neck to midbody 18–24); ventrals divided by a longitudinal fissure; prefrontal in contact with third upper labial; ventrals 220–287. Total length males 950 mm, females 1025 mm; tail length males 80 mm, females 95 mm. Hydrophis is a genus of sea snakes, venomous snakes in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae. Species in the genus Hydrophis are typically found in Indo-Australian and Southeast Asian waters. Currently, around 36 species are recognized as being valid.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Elapidae
Genus:Hydrophis
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