AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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Australian Biodiversity Record, 2007 (8): 1-124supralabial contacting orbit; anterior chin scales large, and usually bordering mental groove;mental groove present and distinct; mental triangular, broader than long, and not partiallyhidden in the shallow mental groove; body scales imbricate, strongly keeled in males and in35-54 rows at mid-body (females have a slightly higher mid-body count than males); ventralssmall, distinct, mostly undivided, barely wider than adjacent body scales and never foliform;ventrals about 253-334; males and females do not have significantly different ventral counts;tail strongly compressed vertically, paddle-like; ovoviviparous. Attains a maximum snout-ventlength of only around 0.8 m. in total length, with males being slightly larger than females.Etymology: The name Polyodontognathus is from Greek roots - ‘poly’ - many, ‘dont’ - tooth,‘gnathus’ refers to the skull, and was bestowed in recognition of the high number of maxillaryteeth in its only included species. Content: Polyodontognathus caerulescens (Shaw, 1802).Polyodontognathus caerulescens (Shaw, 1802)Hydrus caerulescens Shaw, G. (1802): General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History. [p.561] [label on holotype cites type locality as 'Indian Ocean : Vizagapatam']. Type data:holotype BMNH 1946.1.3.90. Type locality: Indian Ocean (as East-Indian) [see Smith, M.A.(1926). Monogr. Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae)]Polyodontes annulatus Lesson, R.P. (1834): Reptiles. [Pp. 289-336]. In: Bélanger, C. (Editor):Voyage aux Indes-Orientales, par le Nord de l'Europe [p. 325, pl. 4] [synonymy doubtful - seeSmith, M.A. (1926). Monogr. Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae)]. Type data: syntypes (probable)whereabouts unknown (presumed lost). Type locality: Malabar coast, India and Gulf ofMartaban, Burma.Hydrophis hybrida Schlegel, H. (1844): Abbildungen neuer oder unvollständing bekannterAmphibien [p. 115, pl. 37]. Type data: holotype RMNH 1492 [see Smith, M.A. (1926). Monogr.Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae)]. Type locality: Moluccas, Indonesia.Hydrophis protervus Jan, G. (1859): Rev. Mag. Zool. (2)11: 148-157 [p. 148] [see also Jan, G.(1859). Rev. Mag. Zool. (2)10 and (2)11-12, 1858 and 1859. (pl. D), as H. protervus]. Typedata: holotype (probable) MNHP [see Smith, M.A. (1926). Monogr.SeaSnakes.(Hydrophiidae)].Type locality:China Sea (?).Hydrophis frontalis Jan, G. (1863): Elenco Sistematico Degli Ofidi [see Jan, G. and Sordelli,F. (1881). Iconographie Générale des Ophidiens. Atlas (p. 110, livr. 39 pl. 5 fig. 2); as H.frontalis]. Type data: holotype RMNH 1477. Type locality: Indian Ocean.Hydrophis polydonta Jan, G. (1863): Elenco Sistematico Degli Ofidi [see also Jan, G. andSordelli, F. (1881). Iconographie Générale des Ophidiens. Atlas (p. 110, livr. 41 pl. 1); as H.polydonta]. Type data: holotype MSNM [see Smith, M.A. (1926). Monogr. Sea Snakes.(Hydrophiidae). Type locality: unknown.Hydrophis caerulescens thai Smith, M.A. (1920): J. Fed. Malay States Mus. 10(1): 1-63 [p.18]. Type data: holotype BMNH 1921.2.11.83. Type locality: Hua Hin, Gulf of Siam, Thailand.Description: This is a relatively, small, elongate sea snake with a short deep head that is notdistinct from the neck. The overall base body colour is pale blue to greyish-blue, with a blackhead and a series of 41-43 black bands on the body; the tail may be black with about 4 paleblotches, or similar to the body with another 7-9 bands. The bands over the body may becomplete, or broken about the vertebral, and so create an alternating pattern of black andblue on the dorsum. Head shields enlarged, symmetrical; 12 or more solid maxillary teethfollowing fang; dentary teeth 22 or more; heart about midway along body; nasal separatedfrom preocular by high 2nd supralabial; 3rd and 4th supralabial contacting orbit; anterior chinscales large, and usually bordering mental groove; mental groove present and distinct; mentaltriangular, broader than long, and not partially hidden in the shallow mental groove; bodyscales imbricate, strongly keeled in males and in 35-54 rows at mid-body (females have aslightly higher mid-body count than males, and Australian specimens appear to have lowermid-body counts than elsewhere); ventrals small, distinct, mostly undivided, barely wider thanadjacent body scales and never foliform; ventrals about 253-334 (although Australian48
Australian Biodiversity Record, 2007 (8): 1-124specimens appear to have lower ventral counts than those of Asia); males and females do nothave significantly different ventral counts. Attains a maximum snout-vent length of onlyaround 0.8 m. in total length, with males being slightly larger than females. Females aresexually mature at about 0.6m. in total length.Distribution: In Australian waters only known from the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland, andthe Northern Territory. However, this species’ total range is from southern India to China,including most of South East Asia, to about the Moluccas in eastern Indonesia, across to NewGuinea and into parts of northern Australia.Habitat: In Australia it inhabits similar relatively shallow continental shelf and gulf watersusually in about 2 m. to 20 m. depths; it apparently favours habitats fairly close to coastlinesor inshore waters. In Asia it is largely restricted to shallow mangrove flats, gulf waters, riverdeltas and estuaries.Biology/Ecology: This is a fast swimming, diurnal species that is active throughout the year.Its diet comprises small fishes, principally of the family Gobiidae, as well as eels, which arehunted along muddy bottoms of relatively shallow waters. The reproductive biology is poorlyknown, but fragmentary observations suggest that females are gravid during the intermonsoonalperiod, and give birth from between 3-13 young (usually about 6-7) prior to theonset of the monsoon season. Larger (heavier) females produce higher numbers of offspringin a litter.Toxicity: It rarely attempts to bite under normal circumstances, but caution shouldnevertheless be exerted, because its venom is highly toxic to humans. Urgent medicalattention should always be sought in the event of a bite from this species.Survival Status: Protected under the Qld Nature Conservation Act (1992) and the TerritoryParks and Wildlife Conservation Act (1998). Listed as a Marine Protected Species under theAustralian Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Probably notunder threat, but its restricted distribution in Australian waters could potentially make itvulnerable in some parts of its range.Etymology: The name ‘caerulescens’ refers to the bluish colouration of this species.Family LaticaudidaeThe Family Laticaudidae comprises two genera - Laticauda with 6 species - viz: Laticaudacolubrina (Schneider 1799); Laticauda crockeri Slevin 1934; Laticauda guineai Heatwole,Busack and Cogger 2005; Laticauda laticaudata (Linnaeus 1758); Laticauda saintgironsiCogger and Heatwole 2005; and Laticauda schistorhynchus (Gunther 1874) of which only twohave been recorded from Australia (as vagrants only) - plus Pseudolaticauda semifasciata(Reinwardt 1837) (which does not occur in Australia).Genus Laticauda Laurenti, 1768Laticauda Laurenti, J.N. (1768). Synopsin Reptilium. [p. 109]. Type species: Laticaudascutatus Laurenti, 1768 by subsequent designation [see Smith, M.A. (1926). Monogr. SeaSnakes. (Hydrophiidae)].Platurus Sonnini de Manoncourt, C.S. and Latreille, P.A. (1802). Histoire e Naturelle desReptiles...[p.183]. Type species: Platurus fasciatus Sonnini and Latreille, 1802 by subsequentdesignation [see Smith, M.A. (1926). Monogr. Sea Snakes. (Hydrophiidae)].Platyurus Agassiz, L. (1846). Nomenclatoris Zoologici Index Universalis. [p. 297] [emend. proPlaturus Sonnini and Latreille, 1802].Pseudolaticauda Kharin, V.E. (1984): Trans. Zool. Inst. Acad. Sci. USSR 124: 128-139 [p.134]. Type species: Platurus semifasciatus Reinwardt, 1837 by original designation.49
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AUSTRALIAN BIODIVERSITY RECORD - Calodema

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