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Laticauda colubrina (Schneider, 1799)
| Family Name: | Hydrophiidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Reptile) |
| Common Name: | Amphibious Sea Snake, Yellow-lipped Sea Krait |
Name
Description
| Description | Head slightly distinct from the slender body which ends in a flattened, paddle-shaped tail. Bluish-grey with black bands; head marked with black and yellow. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Mainly aquatic in habits but comes ashore to rest and lay eggs. It inhabits coral reefs and rocky shorelines and feeds on fish, especially eels. This venomous snake seems to have a docile nature. |
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| Habitats | Marine |
| Distribution | In Singapore, known only from the coral reefs and offshore islands in the Singapore Straits. It has a wide distribution in the Indo-west Pacific. |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Habitat degradation. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | Elsewhere, this species is collected for its skin. |
| Conservation Notes | Habitat protection, strict policing against illegal collection. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Conservation Status | Common |
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Endangered (EN) [2008] |
Photos
References
| References | Baker, N. & Lim, K. 2008. Wild animals of Singapore. Singapore: Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd. 180pp Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp |
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