Distributed range & status
These snakes are found in west coastal areas of Sri Lanka such as Negambo, Wasskaduwa, Dehiwala, Kalutara, Moratuwa, Kandakuliya. Also they are found in the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf coasts off Oman, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Pakistan, India Malaysia (Penang Island), Singapore, Thailand
Scales
rostral |
|
frontal |
Longer than the width |
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
Touches one another |
internasals |
absent |
loreals |
absent |
preoculars |
1 |
postoculars |
2-3 |
temporals |
2+3 or 3+3 |
Supralabials |
8 (2 touches the pre frontal, 3-5 touches the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
8 cuneate scales are found in between |
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
288-395 with 2 ridges on each. |
anal |
|
subcaudals |
45-47 |
There are 40-57 mid body scale rows. Anterior scales are overlapped slightly & rhombus shaped. Posterior scales are not overlapped & hexagonal. In females these bear a blunt keel & males bear a sharp keel. Back of the neck, there are 29-35 scale rows.
Characteristics
The anterior part of the body is cylindrical & posterialy it becomes laterally flattened. The body becomes broader to the posterior side. The neck is indistinct. Short & dorso-ventrally flattened head is present. They have a laterally flattened paddle like tail. Hemipenis divided near the tip; it is spinose throughout.
Colour
Dorsal body is yellowish grey. 33-43 Rhombus interspaces are made by black lines on adults or rings in young. They are not spreaded much or joined together. But the lateral sides of these bands are much clearer. The head is yellow & bear a horse shoe shaped mark. Juvenile tails are black. Adults have a tail like the rest of their body & 3-5 unclear straps.
Venom
They are highly venomous snakes but a death has never been recorded from Sri Lanka.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
These snakes are ovoviviparous. 2-3 offspring are produced at once.
Breeding
Data not found.
Growth
The adult total length is 900-1200mm.
Food
Diet mainly comprises of fish.
Identification
Dorsal bands of this snake are dilated. The tail has unclear 3-5 bands. The head bear a yellow horse shoe shaped mark. Other banded sea snakes have clear bands on the tail & has no yellow horse shoe shaped mark on the head. Also dorsal bands of this them are not dilated as much.
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