Elapidae
Elegant Sea Snake
Hydrophis elegans
A banded marine snake recorded around northern Australia, with qualified New South Wales records.
Dangerously venomous
Identification and appearance
Dark bands cross the body, varying in width and sometimes separating into shorter markings. The species account describes no white ring around the eye; this is not a reason to approach one.
Other names
Bar-bellied Sea Snake
Typical length
AROD lists a species average of 200 cm; these figures do not establish a typical adult interval.
Key identification features
- Dark body bands
- Bands break into bars on the back and belly
- No white orbital ring
Where it is found
Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory; the status of New South Wales records is not resolved here.
Habitat
In Cleveland Bay, Queensland, tracking research found this species using mudflats and seagrass in shallow coastal water.
Activity
A North Queensland tracking study found wider movements near the surface at night and more restricted movements in deeper water during the day.
Diet
Snake eels were the only prey found in regurgitated food examined in a North Queensland study.
Reproduction
Live-bearing.
Medical significance
Treat any suspected bite as an emergency. Call 000 for an ambulance and do not wait for identification.
What to do if you encounter one
Keep your distance in the water or on shore. Do not touch, catch or return a stranded snake to the water. Keep people and pets away and contact local wildlife assistance.
Taxonomy notes
New South Wales is listed by the checked database sources, but the status of those records has not been independently resolved here.
Sources checked
- Australian Reptile Online Database — Hydrophis elegans (2026-09-25)
- The Reptile Database — Hydrophis elegans (2026-09-25)
- ANZCOR — Australian snake bite first aid (2026-09-26)
- Udyawer (2015), Spatial ecology of true sea snakes in coastal waters of North Queensland (2026-09-26)
- James Cook University — North Queensland sea-snake ecology (2015) (2026-09-26)
Still not sure?
Compare this snake with more clues.
A profile is a guide, not a reason to approach or handle a snake.