Spectacled sea snake explained
The spectacled sea snake (Hydrophis kingii), also known commonly as King's sea snake, is species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to waters off northern Australia and the southern coast of New Guinea.[1]
Etymology
The specific name, kingii, is in honor of Australian marine surveyor Philip Parker King.[2]
Description
H. kingii usually attains a total length (including tail) of not more than . 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.[3]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of H. kingii is marine waters, to a depth of, with a muddy or sandy bottom.
Diet
H. kingii preys upon small fishes.
Reproduction
H. kingii is ovoviviparous.
Venom
H. kingii is dangerously venomous.[3]
Further reading
- 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. . (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).
Notes and References
- Web site: Species Hydrophis kingii (Boulenger, 1896) . Australian Faunal Directory . 23 February 2022 .
- [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens B]
- [species:Steve K. Wilson|Wilson S]
