Horned sea snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horned sea snake |
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| By Ferdinando Sordelli in Jan & Sordelli, 1860 | |
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| Genus: |
Hydrophis
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| Species: |
peronii
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| Synonyms | |
The horned sea snake (also known as Hydrophis peronii, Peron's sea snake, or spiny-headed seasnake) is a type of venomous snake that lives in the ocean. It belongs to a group of snakes called sea snakes, which are part of the Elapidae family. This snake is special because it's the only sea snake with small, spiky bumps on its head. It lives only in the western part of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Like all snakes in the Elapidae family, it has venom. Sometimes, scientists put it in its own special group called Acalyptophis.
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Naming the Horned Sea Snake
The scientific name for this snake, peronii, was chosen to honor François Péron. He was a French naturalist and explorer.
What the Horned Sea Snake Looks Like
The spiny-headed seasnake is a medium-sized snake. Its neck is much thinner than the rest of its body. The head is quite small, and its tail is flat on the sides.
This snake has special scales above its eyes called supraoculars. These scales are raised and have pointed edges, which look like small spines. This is why it's called the spiny-headed seasnake!
It can grow up to about 1.23 m (4.0 ft) long. The top of its body is usually grayish, light olive, or tan. It has dark bands across its back. These bands are thinner than the spaces between them. They also get narrower and pointy towards the snake's belly. The underside of the snake is usually white. Sometimes, it has dark bars that switch with spots.
Where the Horned Sea Snake Lives
H. peronii is found in many places across the western tropical Pacific Ocean. You can find it in the Gulf of Siam and Thailand. It also lives near Vietnam and in the South China Sea.
This snake is found along the coast of Guangdong and in the Taiwan Strait. It lives around the Philippines, Indonesia, and New Guinea. You can also find it near New Caledonia, the Coral Sea Islands, and Papua New Guinea. In Australia, it lives in the North Territory, Queensland, and West Australia. It might also be found in New South Wales.
Horned Sea Snake Habitat
The horned sea snake likes to live in the ocean where the bottom is sandy. It also enjoys areas with coral reefs. These places provide good spots for hunting and hiding.
What the Horned Sea Snake Eats
The diet of H. peronii mainly includes small fish. It uses its venom to catch its prey in the ocean.
Horned Sea Snake Reproduction
The horned sea snake is a viviparous species. This means that the females give birth to live young, instead of laying eggs. A female horned sea snake can have up to 10 live babies at one time.
