Hydrophis ornatus | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

Taxa

Hydrophis ornatus | (Gray, 1842)

Publication

UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

Location

Countries in Assessment

United Arab Emirates

Country ISO code(s)

ARE

Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?

Off

Scope (Assessment)

National

Taxon

Taxonomic Group

Vertebrates

Taxonomic Group Level 2

Reptiles

Assessed taxon level

Species

Taxonomic Notes

This species has three subspecies: Hydrophis ornatus ornatus (Gray, 1942), Hydrophis ornatus godeffroyi Peters, 1873, and Hydrophis ornatus ocellatus Gray, 1849. The status of these subspecies is very uncertain, and the subspecies ocellatus is treated in this assessment as a separate distinct species (H. Cogger pers. comm. 2009). H. lamberti has been incorrectly considered a synonym of H. ornatus (Smith 1926). This species has also been treated under the genus Chitulia.

Taxon distribution as listed in assessment

Presence of this species is confirmed within the United Arab Emirates marine territorial waters (Soorae et al. 2006, Buzás et al. 2018). It is found in both the Arabian Gulf and in the Gulf of Oman. Breeding is confirmed, as juveniles are found in the waters off the east coast (Géczy et al. 2017, Buzás et al. 2018). On the east coast, it is found up to 8 km offshore (Géczy et al. 2017, Buzás et al. 2018). The depth range is not certain, but likely to be found to c. 45 m depth along the east coast. Museum specimens from Muscat, Oman (Boulenger 1887), Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz (Gasperetti 1988). Recent museum records are available for the UAE in the Al Mayya Sanctuary, Fujairah.Globally, this species is found in the Arabian Gulf, east to Indonesia, China, and Taiwan (Culotta and Pickwell 1993, Heatwole 1999), and south to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands (Ineich and Rasmussen 1997).

Habitats and Ecology

Ecological system type

Terrestrial system

Freshwater system

Marine system

Habitat

Habitat details as listed in assessment

In UAE waters this species is found up to 6-7 km offshore on the east coast, over sandy bottoms, sometimes associated with coral reefs. The habitat requirements in the UAE require further research. In the Arabian Gulf, there have been significant declines in coastal habitats, but specific utilisation of these habitats is uncertain.Globally, this species is found in coral reefs, turbid inshore waters, and estuaries (Heatwole 1999). It eats fish. The general reproductive strategy for the species includes small clutches (commonly 2-5 individuals). There is evidence of synchronized annual reproduction (Rasmussen 1989).

Is there a map available in assessment?

Yes

Assessed status

Asessment status in full

Least Concern

Assessment status abreviation

Assessment rationale/justification

Presence of this species is confirmed within the United Arab Emirates marine territorial waters, where it occurs in both the Arabian Gulf and in the Gulf of Oman. In contrast with some other sea snakes in UAE waters, this species appears to be relatively abundant, at least on the east coast, and it is assumed to breed in the UAE.Whilst more research and monitoring is required, this species is considered Least Concern as the known threats are unlikely to be causing a significant decline at present.

About the assessment

Assessment year

2018

Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed

UAE National Red List Workshop

Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment

Government

IGO

Assessor affiliation specific

Government|IGO

Criteria system

Criteria system specifics

IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0

Criteria system used

IUCN

Criteria Citation

IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.

Endemism

Endemic to region

Not_assigned

Endemism Notes

Is an endemic?: Not_assigned

Conservation

Threats listed in assessment

As with all sea snakes, this species is vulnerable to indirect threats from habitat loss and climate change throughout its range (Rasmussen et al. in prep.). The impact of oil spills and other marine pollution requires further study. They have the potential for entanglement in marine litter and abandoned fish traps (garghoor).

Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus
Hydrophis ornatus	Animalia	Chordata	Reptilia	Squamata	Elapidae	Hydrophis