Spine-bellied Sea Snake [Hydrophis curtus]
Description
The Spine-bellied Sea Snake is a venomous elapid sea snake species found in the tropical Indo-Pacific. The snake has a unique morphological adaptation in which the belly scales are strongly keeled, which gives the snake its common name. It typically inhabits shallow water less than 10 meters deep, particularly mangrove swamps and estuaries. It feeds on small fish and eels.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Reptiles
Reptilia
|
| Order |
Sea Snakes
Squamata
|
| Family |
True Sea Snakes
Hydrophiidae
|
| Genus |
Spine-bellied Sea Snakes
Lapemis
|