Hydrophis mamillaris
| Hydrophis mamillaris | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Hydrophis |
| Species: | H. mamillaris
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hydrophis mamillaris (Daudin, 1803)
| |
Hydrophis mamillaris, sometimes referred to as the Bombay sea snake
Taxonomy and etymology
The Bombay sea snake was first described by François Marie Daudin in 1803, from a specimen collected at Visakhapatnam on India's eastern coast.[3] It was first assigned to the genus Anguis, and given the specific name mamillaris. This refers to the central tubercle at the center of each scale, which was thought to resemble the mammalian nipple.[3]
Some authorities express doubt over the veracity of Daudin's type specimen, arguing that the vague description provided is insufficient. However, later specimens collected at Visakhapatnam were apparently satisfactory, and most available research asserts that the Bombay sea snake is a valid species.[1][3][5]
In the two centuries since the Bombay sea snake's discovery, assignments to multiple genera have been proposed- including Aturia, Chitulia, and Leioselasma. It was assigned to Hydrophis in 1943, where it remains to this day.[5]
Description
The Bombay sea snake is a small (2–2 ½ feet) snake with greyish coloration and a body patterned with black bands. These bands are broader than the interval scales at the mid-body, a trait that is unique to this snake in the Indian Ocean.[3]
The head is black in color, with small eyes and a rounded snout of moderate length. The tail is laterally compressed, black in color, and encircled by one to six light-colored rings which are broken on the underside of the tail. The center of each scale features a protruding tubercle.[3]
Habitat and behavior
A
Little is known of the mating habits of this snake—based on the single recorded
Distribution
They have been collected all along the Indian coast, although specimens are concentrated near Mumbai on the western coast and Visakhapatnam on the eastern coast.[3] Specimens have also been encountered off the coast of Pakistan, and a single record exists for Sri Lanka.[1]
Conservation status
The Bombay sea snake's population is considered
The snake is considered rare by what authorities exist, and it is potentially threatened by marine bycatch.[1][3][6]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b Hydrophis mamillaris at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wall, Frank (1921). Ophidia Taprobanica: or, the Snakes of Ceylon. Ceylon: H.R Cottle, Government Printer.
- ^ "Hydrophis mamillaris (Daudin, 1803)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ .
- ^ a b Patel, Harshil (2009). "Reptilian diversity in and around the marine national park and marine sanctuary, Gujarat State". Tigerpaper. 36: 26–31.