Aipysurus fuscus
Aipysurus fuscus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Genus: | Aipysurus |
Species: | A. fuscus
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Binomial name | |
Aipysurus fuscus (Tschudi, 1837)
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Synonyms[2] | |
Stephanohydra fusca Tschudi, 1837 |
Aipysurus fuscus, commonly known as the dusky sea snake or Timor Reef snake, is a species of
Description and taxonomy
A. fuscus tends to be dark, colored purplish brown, brown, or blackish brown above. It occasionally has paler bands on the lower flanks. The center of each lateral scale is occasionally darker, giving the appearance of longitudinal striations.[3] It is a member of the subfamily Hydrophiinae, or marine elapid snakes.[2] The species name of A. fuscus derives from the Latin term fuscus, which translates to "dusky" or "dark," in reference to the snake's coloration.[2] The species is thought to not usually grow beyond 78 centimeters (31 in) in length, although substantially larger specimens have been found. It is thought to reach reproductive maturity after three or four years, have an average generation time of five years, and an average lifespan of ten.[1]
Behavior and ecology
The snake is
Habitat and distribution
A. fuscus primarily inhabits reefs in shallow marine habitats. It has occasionally been recorded at depths of up to 30 metres (98 ft).
Conservation status
Catch rates for the species declined drastically between 1998 and 2007, in which year no specimens were found. The estimated decline in the population of A. fuscus is at least 70%.
References
- ^ . Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Aipysurus fuscus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 December 2016.
- ISBN 9780643109773.
- hdl:1885/20734.