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Genus Hydrophis Sonnini & Latreille, 1802

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

 

Introduction

Rasmussen et al. (2014) list Hydrophis laboutei Rasmussen & Ineich, 2000 as possibly occurring in Australian waters, but until the presence of this species is confirmed it is not included here. There is no evidence that H. inornatus (Gray, 1849), H. melanocephalus Gray, 1849, H. melanosoma Günther, 1864, H. ornatus (Gray, 1842) and H. obscurus Daudin, 1803 occur in Australian waters (Rasmussen et al. 2014).

 

Excluded Taxa

Misidentifications

ELAPIDAE: Hydrophis inornatus (Gray, 1849) [dismiss reports and identity of specimens upon which putative occurrence in Australian waters is based] — Rasmussen, A.R., Sanders, K.L., Guinea, M.L. & Amey, A.P. 2014. Sea snakes in Australian waters (Serpentes: subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae)—a review with an updated identification key. Zootaxa 3869(4): 351-371 [354]

ELAPIDAE: Hydrophis melanosoma Günther, 1864 — Rasmussen, A.R., Sanders, K.L., Guinea, M.L. & Amey, A.P. 2014. Sea snakes in Australian waters (Serpentes: subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae)—a review with an updated identification key. Zootaxa 3869(4): 351-371 [354] (consider that all reports from Australian waters lack validation)

HYDROPHIIDAE: Hydrophis obscurus Daudin, 1803

ELAPIDAE: Hydrophis ornatus (Gray, 1842) — Rasmussen, A.R., Sanders, K.L., Guinea, M.L. & Amey, A.P. 2014. Sea snakes in Australian waters (Serpentes: subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae)—a review with an updated identification key. Zootaxa 3869(4): 351-371 [355]

ELAPIDAE: Hydrophis schistosa Daudin, 1803

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia


Extra Distribution Information

Palaearctic Region—waters of Persian Gulf, Oriental Region—Indian subcontinent, SE Asia, Indo-Malayan Archipelago, Philippines Australian Region—New Guinea, islands of western Pacific.


IBRA and IMCRA regions (map not available)

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6)

Other Regions

Coral Sea Islands Territory, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Notes

Details for Hydrophis melanosoma Günther, 1864, now excluded from Australian waters:

Hydrophis melanosoma Günther, 1864

Common Names: Black-banded Robust Seasnake
Taxon Codes: CAVS: 2759

Taxonomy: Synonyms and Associated Data
Hydrophis melanosoma Günther, 1864
Günther, A. 1864. The Reptiles of British India. London : Royal Society xxvii 444 pp. [367, pl. 25 fig. E].
Type data: Holotype BMNH 1946.1.10.6, locality unknown.
Taxonomic decision for synonymy: Smith, M.A. 1926. Monograph on the Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae). London : British Museum xvii 130 pp.
Cogger, H.G. 1983. in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. Amphibia and Reptiles. In Walton, D.W. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 1. Netley, South Australia : Griffin Press Ltd. vi 313 pp. [252]

Distribution
State: Queensland, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information: Arafura Sea, Coral Sea.
IMCRA: Northeast Shelf Transition (41)
Ecology: Aquatic, continental shelf, inshore, nektonic, piscivore.
Extra Ecological Information: Perennially active, viviparous.

Notes: Non-Australian synonyms:
Hydrophis floweri Boulenger, G.A. (1898). Description of a new sea-snake from Borneo. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1898: 106-107 [106, pl. 9].
Type data: syntypes BMNH 1946.1.9.48-51.
Type locality: Brunei Bay, Borneo.

Taxonomic decision for synonymy: Smith, M.A. (1926). Monograph on the Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae). London : British Museum xvii 130 pp.; Cogger, H.G. (1983). in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. Amphibia and Reptiles. In Walton, D.W. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 1. Netley, South Australia : Griffin Press Ltd vi 313 pp. [252].

General References
Cogger, H.G. 1975. The sea snakes of Australia and New Guinea. pp. 59-139 in Dunson, W. (ed.). The Biology of Sea Snakes. Baltimore : University Park Press. (taxonomy)
McDowell, S.B. 1972. The genera of sea-snakes of the Hydrophis group (Serpentes: Elapidae). Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 32: 189-247 (taxonomy)
Smith, M.A. 1926. Monograph on the Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae). London : British Museum xvii 130 pp. (taxonomy)

Common Name References
Clayton, M., Wombey, J.C., Mason, I.J., Chesser, R.T. & Wells, A. 2006. CSIRO List of Australian Vertebrates: A Reference with Conservation Status. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing iv 162 pp. [47] (Black-banded Robust Seasnake)

Notes

Details for Hydrophis inornatus, now excluded from Australian waters:

Hydrophis inornatus (J.E. Gray, 1849)
Common Names: Plain Seasnake
Taxon Codes: CAVS: 2757

Taxonomy: Synonyms and Associated Data
Chitulia inornatus Gray, 1849
Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xv 125 pp. [56].
Type data: Holotype BMNH 1946.1.1.27, Indian Ocean.

Chitulia fasciata Gray, 1849
Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xv 125 pp. [56].
Type data: Holotype BMNH 1946.1.1.59, Indian Ocean.

Hydrophis manillae Owen, 1859
Owen, R. 1859. Descriptive Catalogue of the Specimens of Natural History in Spirit Contained in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. Vertebrata. London : Royal College of Surgeons. [77] [nom. nud.].
Type data: Syntype(s).

Hydrophis longiceps Günther, 1864
Günther, A. 1864. The Reptiles of British India. London : Royal Society xxvii 444 pp. [375, pl. 25 fig. 0] [unnecessary replacement name for Chitulia fasciata Gray, 1849].
Taxonomic decision for synonymy: Smith, M.A. 1926. Monograph on the Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae). London : British Museum xvii 130 pp.
Cogger, H.G. 1983. in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. Amphibia and Reptiles. In Walton, D.W. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 1. Netley, South Australia : Griffin Press Ltd. vi 313 pp. [251]

Generic Combinations
Hydrophis inornatus (J.E. Gray, 1849). —
Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. 1983. Amphibia and Reptilia. In, Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1 313 pp. [251] (as Hydrophis inornatus (J.E. Gray, 1849))

Distribution
State: Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information: Arafura Sea, Timor Sea.
IMCRA: Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26)
Ecology: Aquatic, continental shelf, diurnal, inshore, nektonic, piscivore.
Extra Ecological Information: Perennially active, viviparous.

Notes: Non-Australian synonyms:
Thalassophis schlegelii Schmidt, P. (1852). Beiträge zur ferneren kentniss der Meerschlangen. Abh. Geb. Naturw. Hamburg 2: 69-86 [83, pl. 5].
Type data: syntypes ZMH 393-395 (see Smith, M.A. (1926). Monograph on the Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae). London : British Museum xvii 130 pp.).
Type locality: Java, Indonesia.

Taxonomic decision for synonymy: Smith, M.A. (1926). Monograph on the Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae). London : British Museum xvii 130 pp.; Cogger, H.G. (1983). in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. Amphibia and Reptiles. In Walton, D.W. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 1. Netley, South Australia : Griffin Press Ltd vi 313 pp. [251].

General References
Cogger, H.G. 1975. The sea snakes of Australia and New Guinea. pp. 59-139 in Dunson, W. (ed.). The Biology of Sea Snakes. Baltimore : University Park Press. (taxonomy)
McDowell, S.B. 1972. The genera of sea-snakes of the Hydrophis group (Serpentes: Elapidae). Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 32: 189-247 (taxonomy)
Smith, M.A. 1926. Monograph on the Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae). London : British Museum xvii 130 pp. (taxonomy)
Common Name References
Clayton, M., Wombey, J.C., Mason, I.J., Chesser, R.T. & Wells, A. 2006. CSIRO List of Australian Vertebrates: A Reference with Conservation Status. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing iv 162 pp. [46] (Plain Seasnake)

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
07-Feb-2024 SQUAMATA 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
04-Feb-2023 ELAPIDAE Boie, 1827 06-Dec-2023 MODIFIED
25-Feb-2022 ELAPIDAE Boie, 1827 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
25-Feb-2022 Hydrophiinae Fitzinger, 1843 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
03-Oct-2018 ELAPIDAE Boie, 1827 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
07-Feb-2024 SERPENTES 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
07-Feb-2024 ELAPIDAE 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
02-Oct-2014 Hydrophis Sonnini & Latreille, 1802 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
07-Feb-2024 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
08-Mar-2011 07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED
07-Feb-2024 MODIFIED