Hydrophis ocellatus GRAY, 1849
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Hydrophis ocellatus
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| Higher Taxa | Elapidae (Hydrophiinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | |
| Synonym | Hydrophis ocellata GRAY 1849 Hydrophis ornatus ocellatus — SMITH 1926: 84 Aturia ocellata — WELCH 1994: 25 Hydrophis ornatus ocellatus — O’SHEA 1996: 192 Hydrophis ocellatus — HEATWOLE 1999 Chitulia ornata ocellata — KHARIN 2005 Hydrophis ornatus ocellatus — SANG et al. 2009: 407 Chitulia (Chitulia) ocellata — KHARIN 2012 Hydrophis ocellatus — RASMUSSEN et al. 2014 Hydrophis ocellatus — EIPPER & EIPPER 2024: 266 |
| Distribution | Australia (Northern Territory, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia) |
| Reproduction | ovovivparous |
| Types | Holotype: BMNH III.g.9.a |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis (based on 7 specimens): “Differs from the typical form in having more scale-rows on the body (10 to 15) when compared with those on the neck, more ventral (average for seven specimens 288), in having sometimes only six supralabials, and in having the flanks adorned with ocellate spots and smaller rounded markings. With age these may almost disappear, leaving the dorsum grey and the lower parts yellowish or whitish. 31 to 35 scale-rows on the neck in males, 37 to 42 in females, 45 to 49 on the body in males, 51 to 57 in females. Ventrals 246 to 290 in males, 306 to 336 in females. Total length: 1220 mm.: tail 150 (male).” (Smith 1926: 84) |
| Comment | Venomous! Habitat: marine. Distribution: not in New South Wales fide Swan et al. 2017, Field Guide (or considered as subspecies of ornatus). |
| Etymology | From Latin ocellus = diminuitive of oculus: eye; with ocellated scales, or patches that look like eyes. |
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