Viperine sea snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Viperine sea snake |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hydrophis
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| Species: |
viperinus
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| Synonyms | |
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Praescutata viperina (Schmidt, 1852) Thalassophina viperina (Schmidt, 1852) |
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Hydrophis viperinus, also known as the viperine sea snake, is a type of venomous snake that lives in the ocean. It belongs to the family Elapidae, which includes many well-known venomous snakes. This snake is a true sea snake, meaning it spends its entire life in the water.
About the Viperine Sea Snake
What Does It Look Like?
The viperine sea snake usually has two main colors on its body. It is often gray on its back and white on its belly. There is usually a clear line where these two colors meet along its sides.
Sometimes, this snake can have dark, diamond-shaped spots on its body. It might have around 25 to 35 of these spots. Very rarely, it might have dark bands instead of spots.
Male viperine sea snakes can grow up to about 92.5 centimeters (about 36 inches) long. Females are a bit smaller, reaching about 82 centimeters (about 32 inches). Their tails are relatively short compared to their body length.
Where Does It Live?
The viperine sea snake lives in the northern parts of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. You can find it in many countries, from the Persian Gulf all the way to India, Indonesia, and southern China.
It has been seen in the waters near countries like Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and China. It also lives near India (including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Indonesia, Iran, and Iraq. Other places where it can be found include Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, and the Philippines. You might also find it near Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
