AROD > Reptiles / Squamata / Hydrophiidae
True sea snakes
Hydrophiidae
| Etymology: | 'Water lover' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Notes: |
These are the 'true' sea snakes. They spend their entire lives at sea, eating, mating and giving birth in the water. It has become clear in recent years that the Australasian terrestrial Elapidae and the aquatic Hydrophiidae are closely related. Some scientists position the Australasian Elapid snakes as a subfamily (Elapinae) within Hydrophiidae. |
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| Statistics: |
Reproductive modes:
Live-bearing - 31 out of 31 Australian species Size range: Smallest Australian species: northern mangrove snake (Parahydrophis mertoni) at 50 cm Longest Australian species: olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis) at up to 200 cm |
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| Number of Australian genera: | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Australian species: | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genera: |
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