Wildlifeof Malaysia
Spine-bellied Sea Snake
Cobras, Kraits & Sea Snakes
Photo: Ashwin Viswanathan · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Hydrophis curtus
Basic stats
Range
Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean to the western Pacific and northern Australia
The spine-bellied sea snake, also called Shaw's sea snake or the short sea snake, is a fully marine, live-bearing, front-fanged and highly venomous elapid. It is widely distributed in warm tropical waters, from the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean through the South China Sea and Indo-Australian Archipelago to northern Australia. It is collected for food, for medicine and for its skin (Wikipedia, general species account).
Both sexes have spiny scales, but those of males are more highly developed, and this may play a role in courtship or reduce drag when swimming. It was once treated as two species, Hydrophis curtus and Hydrophis hardwickii, but a study of over 1,400 specimens concluded it is one (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- Where is the Spine-bellied Sea Snake found?
- Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean to the western Pacific and northern Australia