Spotted Sea Snake

Identification and appearance

The back can be olive, grey or whitish, marked with dark ovals or broad bars, while smaller spots occur along the sides. Markings may become faint with age. The front of the body is relatively narrow.

Typical length

AROD reports an average of about 100 cm; the Reptile Database gives 122 cm for a male specimen, not a population maximum.

Key identification features

• Oval or broad bar-like markings on the back
• Smaller spots on the sides
• Markings can fade with age

Where it is found

Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia are listed by the Reptile Database. Western Australian Museum specimens document the northwest coast and occasional records farther south. The database also lists Tasmania, but this review has not established the basis or residency of that record.

Diet

On the Great Barrier Reef, its recorded prey are mainly fish living on or near the seabed, including cardinalfishes.

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 clear and do not handle, net or disentangle a sea snake. Contact qualified wildlife help if a stranded animal or fishing-gear entanglement needs attention.

Taxonomy notes

The Reptile Database recognises Hydrophis ocellatus as a separate species. Older literature sometimes placed it within H. ornatus. Range remains partial because historical names and some southern records require qualification.