Stoke's Sea Snake
Hydrophis stokesii
Also known as: Astrotia stokesii, - No other name
- Astrotia stokesii
- - No other name
Overview
Found singly, over coral and rocky reefs, of coastal bays and lagoons. When migrating, they form meter-long sticks, in their thousands! One of the heaviest, and stoutest sea snakes.
Sea snakes are reptiles that have adapted to life underwater, they breathe air through valved nostrils, the valves close when they dive down and open when they come up for air, they usually stay down for 20-30mins before coming up for air.
These snakes also give birth to live young.
Although they have a poisonous bite that can paralyse prey they are not normally aggressive and are usually inquisitive to divers.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific
- Country only · 1
Found singly, over coral and rocky reefs, of coastal bays and lagoons.
Adult photos 1
Discussion
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Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- orderSquamata
- familyElapidae
- genusHydrophis
- speciesHydrophis stokesii (Gray, 1846)
SourcesWoRMSSeaLifeBase
More in the family
Squamata

