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  Elegant Sea Snake ( Hydrophis elegans )



Elegant Sea Snake | Hydrophis elegans photo
Sea Snake on beach at Fraser Island.

Photograph by Francesca. Some rights reserved.

Elegant Sea Snake | Hydrophis elegans photo
Sea Snake on beach at Fraser Island.

Photograph by Francesca. Some rights reserved.




ELEGANT SEA SNAKE FACTS

distribution map showing range of Hydrophis elegans in Australia

Description
The Elegant Sea Snake is a dangerous venomous sea snake. Young snakes are greyish with a number of 35-55 blackish cross bands, that become blotches as it matures. The sides have dark spots. The head is grey or olive. The tail is paddle shaped vertically.

Size
up to 2m long

Environment
deep water between reefs, shallow muddy bottomed habitat. Sometimes seen washed up on beach

Food
eels and long thin fish, shrimp

Breeding
give birth to 12-23 live young. The young are about 30cm at birth.

Range
northern Australian waters from south west Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland down as far as northern New South Wales.



Classification
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata (Serpentes)
Family:Hydrophiidae
Genus:Hydrophis
Species:elegans
Common Name:Elegant Sea Snake