Laticauda Laurenti, 1768

Rasmussen, Arne Redsted, Sanders, Kate Laura, Guinea, Michael L. & Amey, Andrew P., 2014, Sea snakes in Australian waters (Serpentes: subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae) - a review with an updated identification key, Zootaxa 3869 (4), pp. 351-371 : 356

Laticauda Laurenti, 1768 .

The countries around Australia have at least six Laticauda species ( Cogger & Heatwole, 2006; Heatwole et al., 2005). In the literature two species are reported from Australian waters: L. colubrina and L. laticaudata ( Cogger, 1975; Minton, 1975; M. A. Smith, 1926). At least 3 specimens of L. colubrina are deposited in the Australian Museum, Sydney: AMS R20883 from Sydney, R 2954 from Wollongong, and R11524 from Victorian N. Hill and one from Museum Victoria, Melbourne: D 4276 from Sydney. Three of the localities are in New South Wales and indicate the specimens are waifs, one is from inland western Victoria (the desert town Northern Hill ) indicating a wrong locality. At least three Australian specimens of L. laticaudata are deposited in museum collections, one in BMNH:55.10.16.439 from Tasmania, one in ZMUC: 66265 from Sydney and one in Museum Victoria, Melbourne 60287 from Torres Strait also indicating waif specimens. We have found no further specimens reported from Australia indicating that Laticauda is not breeding in Australian waters despite there being breeding populations from surrounding countries (Bonnet, Brischoux, Pearson, & Rivalan, 2009; Brischoux & Bonnet, 2009). McCarthy (1986) suggests that competition from the Aipysurus species might, at least in part, be responsible for the rarity of Laticauda in Australian waters. Greer (1997) suggests that it may be due to the absence of coastal limestone rocks in northern Australia which is the preferred sheltering and egg-laying sites for these species. Further investigation in the northern part of coastal Australia is much needed before we can include Laticauda in the checklist; however, we include Laticauda sp. in the possible list.