Dwarf Sea Snake

Identification and appearance

A small sea snake with bluish-grey upperparts, a pale underside and broad darker bands that may become indistinct in older adults.

Typical length

AROD lists a species average of about 80 cm; the entry gives no separate maximum.

Key identification features

• Bluish-grey upperparts with a pale underside.
• Broad darker bands that may fade with age.

Where it is found

Confirmed from the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland; the 2014 Australian review confirms the species in Australian waters.

Diet

A coastal Bangladesh study found the eel-shaped goby Odontamblyopus rubicundus in its gut contents.

Reproduction

Live-bearing.

Medical significance

For any suspected snakebite, call 000 and follow snakebite first aid. Do not wait for identification.

What to do if you encounter one

Keep away from the animal and do not enter its path. Never handle, net or disentangle a sea snake; alert local marine authorities or a qualified wildlife professional if intervention is necessary.

Similar-looking snakes

Horned Sea Snake (Hydrophis peronii) recorded by a remotely operated vehicle at Ashmore Reef in 2021. The inset shows a closer view of the head. Underwater lighting affects the apparent colour.

Photo: Speed et al. (2022), Frontiers in Marine Science 9:921542, Figure 3H · CC BY 4.0 (Licence)

Elapidae

Horned Sea Snake

Hydrophis peronii

An Indo-Pacific sea snake with Australian records in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. It has blunt projections on certain head shields and may be cream to pale brown with bands that fade in older adults.

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