Hydrophis, Latreille, 1801

Leviton, Alan E., Siler, Cameron D., Weinell, Jeffrey L. & Brown, Rafe M., 2018, Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64 (14), pp. 399-568 : 465-467

Hydrophis [ Acalyptophis ] peronii (A.H.A. Duméril, 1853)

Spiny-headed Sea Snake or Horned Sea Snake

Acalyptus peronii A.H.A. Duméril, 1853:522 .

Acalyptophis peronii, Boulenger, 1896:269 .— Smith, 1926:102, figs. 28–29.— David and Ineich, 1999:55.— Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:2.

Hydrophis [ Acalyptophis ] peronii, Leviton, Brown, and Siler, 2014:509 , figs. 20C, 42.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— New Holland (but questioned by Smith, 1926:103). Holotype: MNHN 7177 .

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (unknown, but it has been reported from the coast of the Malaysian Peninsula and Vietnam in the South China Sea).

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION (OTHER THAN PHILIPPINES).— Gulf of Siam, including coastal Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, South China Sea north to Taiwan, and east to New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Australia.

REMARKS.— We have tentatively assigned this species to Hydrophis consistent with the treatments of Hydrophis and related nominal genera by Sanders et al. (2013:583) and Pyron et al. (2013).

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Least Concern [2016] ver. 3.1.

Hydrophis [ Pelamis ] platurus (Linnaeus, 1758) Photo figure 98 Pelagic Sea Snake; Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Anguis platura Linnaeus, 1766:391 .

Pelamis platurus, Smith, 1926:116 , fig. 33; 1943:476.— McCarthy, 1993e:245.— David and Ineich, 1999:174.— Whitaker and Captain, 2004:402, photo (p. 403).

Pelamis platura, Rasumssen et al., 2011:9 .— Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:529.

Hydrophis [ Pelamis ] platurus, Leviton, Brown, and Siler, 2014:509 , figs. 27A, 27C, 30, 43–44.

Hydrophis platyurus [sic], Sanguila, Cobb, Siler, Diesmos Alcala, and Brown, 2016:103.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Not stated. Holotype not traced (see Wallach et al. [2014:529]).

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION ( Map 18C [p. 129]).— Gigantes Ids., Luzon (but said to be widely distributed), Mindanao (Prov.: Zamboanga Sibugay [ Sibuguey Bay ]), Sulu Archipelago (Jolo, Sibutu), Surigao .

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION (OTHER THAN PHILIPPINES).— Most widely distributed of all sea snakes, from east coast of Africa throughout southern and eastern coastal Asia, as far north as southern Siberia, throughout Indonesia to Australia and Tasmania, also from Gulf of Panama north to Baja California in western North America and Hawaiian Islands. (See Wallach et al. [2014:529] for details.)

REMARKS.— We have tentatively assigned this species to Hydrophis consistent with the treatments of Hydrophis and related nominal genera by Sanders et al. (2013) and Pyron et al. (2013).

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Least Concern [2016] ver. 3.1.

Hydrophis [ Enhydrina ] schistosus ( Daudin, 1803) Photo figure 99 Beaked Sea Snake; Hooked-nosed Sea Snake

Hydrophis schistosus Daudin, 1803 , 7:386.

Enhydrina schistosa, Smith, 1926:36 , fig. 17; 1943:449, fig. 144.— McCarthy, 1993b:227.— David and Ineich, 1999:92.— Whitaker and Captain, 2004:390, photo (p. 391).— Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:265.

Disteira schistosa, McDowell, 1972:239–244 .

Hydrophis [ Enhydrina ] schistosus, Leviton, Brown, and Siler, 2014:510 , figs. 20A, 21B, 22, 45.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— “Restricted to Tranquebar [= Tharangambadi], Tamil Nadu State, SE India... fide M.A. Smith (1926 a: 39)” ( Wallach et al. [2014:265]; see also Bauer [2015:46]). Type based on Russell, 1801, p. 11, pl. x and p. 13, pl. xi. According to Wallach et al. (op. cit.), “ Holotype, BMNH 1946.1.10.7 (formerly RCSM & BMNH 1921.7.28.1)...”

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (although there are no specific records, its wide range and occurrence in the South China Sea in muddy bottoms of coastal waters and at the mouths of streams, makes its occurrence in the coastal waters of southwestern Philippines likely).

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION (OTHER THAN PHILIPPINES).— Persian/Arabian Gulf (Iraq, Iran), Oman, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, east to New Guinea and Australia (David and Ineich [1999:92]).

REMARKS.— Stuebing and Inger note that “The Beaked Sea Snake is a dangerous species, with potent venom and a reputation in Peninsula Malaysia for biting fishermen. Because of its preference for muddy bottoms, it is sometimes trod upon in shallow tidal flats by people who wade barefoot while netting prawns.” (Stuebing and Inger [1999:207].)

REMARKS.— We have tentatively assigned this species to Hydrophis consistent with the treatments of Hydrophis and related nominal genera by Sanders et al. (2013) and Pyron et al. (2013).

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Least Concern [2016] ver. 3.1.

Hydrophis [ Leioselasma ] semperi Garman, 1881 Photo figure 100 Lake Taal Sea snake

Hydrophis semperi Garman, 1881:85 .— Smith, 1926:63.— McCarthy, 1993c:240.— David and Ineich, 1999:118.— Leviton, Brown, and Siler, 2014:511, fig. 46.

Leioselasma semperi, Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:360 .

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Lake Taal , Luzon Id., Philippines. Holotype: MCZ 4352 .

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION (ENDEMIC) ( Map 18D [p. 129]).— Luzon (Prov.: Batangas [Lake Taal]).

REMARKS.— We have tentatively assigned this species to Hydrophis consistent with the treatments of Hydrophis and related nominal genera by Sanders et al. (2013) and Pyron et al. (2013).

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Vulnerable B1ab(iii,v); D2 [2016] ver. 3.1.

Hydrophis [ Leioselasma ] spiralis (Shaw, 1802) Photo figure 101 Yellow Sea Snake

Hydrus spiralis Shaw, 1802:564 , pl. 125.

Hydrophis spiralis, Smith, 1926:48 .— David and Ineich, 1999:118.— Leviton, Brown, and Siler, 2014:511, figs. 25A, 26C–D.

Leioselasma spiralis, Wallach, Williams, and Boundy, 2014:360 .

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE SPECIMEN (S).— Indian Ocean. Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.6.94 (formerly BMNH III.6.10.c) (see comment by Smith [1926:50], also Bauer [2015:57 [).

PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTION ( Map 19A [p. 130]).— Philippines (a single record, juvenile, from Mergusi [Smith {1926:50}] has been repeatedly cited without further evidence of presence in Philippine coastal waters; Wallach et al. [2014:360] include Tablas in their distribution list).

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION (OTHER THAN PHILIPPINES).— Widely distributed from the Persian/Arabian Gulf east to Malaysia and Indonesia (see David and Ineich [1999:118]; Wallach et al. [2014:360]).

REMARKS.— We have tentatively assigned this species to Hydrophis consistent with the treatments of Hydrophis and related nominal genera by Sanders et al. (2013) and Pyron et al.(2013).

CONSERVATION STATUS [IUCN].— Least Concern [2016] ver. 3.1.