Emydocephalus orarius, also known as the white-crowned sea snake or white-naped sea snake, is a species of elapid sea snake endemic to Australian waters. The specific epithet orarius (“coastal”) refers to its known habitat.[2]

Emydocephalus orarius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Emydocephalus
Species:
E. orarius
Binomial name
Emydocephalus orarius
Nankivell et al., 2020[1]

Description

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The species grows up to 116 cm in length.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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The species has been recorded from soft-bottomed waters off the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne coasts of Western Australia, including Barrow, and Legendre Islands. The type locality is Shark Bay.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Nankivell, James H; Goiran, Claire; Hourston, Mathew; Shine, Richard; Rasmussen, Arne R; Thomson, Vicki A; Sanders, Kate L (2020). "A new species of turtle-headed sea snake (Emydocephalus: Elapidae) endemic to Western Australia". Zootaxa. 4758 (1): 141–156. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4758.1.6. PMID 32230158. S2CID 214750958.
  2. ^ a b c "Emydocephalus orarius NANKIVELL, GOIRAN, HOURSTON, SHINE, RASMUSSEN, THOMSON & SANDERS, 2020". Reptile Database. Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann. Retrieved 1 June 2021.