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 
| |
| 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
editThe specific name, kingii, is in honor of Australian marine surveyor Philip Parker King.[4]
Description
editH. 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
editThe 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
editReproduction
editH. kingii is ovoviviparous.[2]
Venom
editH. kingii is dangerously venomous.[5]
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Hydrophis kingii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Species Hydrophis kingii (Boulenger, 1896)". Australian Faunal Directory. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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
edit- 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).
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