Kerilia Gray

Rasmussen, Arne Redsted, Elmberg, Johan, Gravlund, Peter & Ineich, Ivan, 2011, Sea snakes (Serpentes: subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae) in Vietnam: a comprehensive checklist and an updated identification key, Zootaxa 2894, pp. 1-20 : 8

Kerilia Gray

Kerilia jerdonii Gray : ( Bourret, 1934, 1936; Harding & Welch, 1980; Tran & Nguyên, 1980; Kharin, 1984b; Tran & Nguyên, 1995; Nguyên & Hó, 1996; Nguyên et al., 2005; Kharin, 2006; Nguyên et al., 2009).

Diagnostic characters: Easily recognized by the yellowish colour and the low scale row counts around neck and body. Maxillary bone extending forward beyond the palatine and fangs followed without any interspace by 7– 9 teeth. Scale rows around neck 15–17; scale rows around body 19–23; ventrals 200–278. Colouration: Body yellow above, yellowish or white below, with black bands wider above and fading laterally. In some specimens the dark bands encircle the body. Size: 105 cm. General distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Sea, Strait of Malacca, Singapore, Gulf of Thailand, South China Sea, Taiwan and Borneo ( David & Ineich, 1999). Remarks: Two subspecies are recognised ( Smith, 1926): K. jerdoni jerdoni is found in India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Sea, and from Strait of Malacca to Singapore; K. j. siamensis is found from East Malaysia, Gulf of Thailand to China and Taiwan. ( Smith, 1926; Rasmussen & Andersen, 1990).