Taxon name
Hydrophis schistosus
Daudin, 1803
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Hydrophis schistosus
Daudin, 1803
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
Daudin, 1803
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
This species has been placed in several different genera in the past, however, a recent molecular phylogenetic study of 39 sea snake species in 15 genera recovered Hydrophis as broadly paraphyletic with respect to several other genera (Sanders et al. 2013). Instead of erecting multiple new genera, the authors recommended dismantling the mostly monotypic genera Pelamis, Enhydrina, Astrotia, Thalassophina, Acalyptophis, Kerilia, Lapemis and Disteira, and recognizing a single genus, Hydrophis, for these taxa (Sanders et al. 2013). This classification system avoids confusion and better reflects the history of recent and very rapid diversification of these snakes and are followed by most recent authors.
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Data deficient
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
Presence of this species is confirmed within the United Arab Emirates marine territorial waters, however on the east coast, this was the least common species found in surveys, only known from one specimen out of c.250 individuals collected, and on the Arabian Gulf, it is known from a single known stranding record from the Dubai coast.This species may be vagrant within UAE waters, or occurrence be the result of accidental transport. It is considered Data Deficient.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
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.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Presence of this species is confirmed within the United Arab Emirates marine territorial waters (Soorae et al. 2006, Castilla et al. 2017, Buzás et al. 2018). On the east coast, this was the least common species found in surveys, only known from one specimen (collected 6.3 km offshore) out of c.250 individuals collected (Géczy et al. 2017, Buzás et al. 2018). On the Arabian Gulf, it is known from a single available stranding record from the Dubai coast (M.A.R. Khan pers. comm. 2018). Recorded from the Arabian Gulf and from the Gulf of Oman (Gasperetti 1988, Rezaie-Atagholipur et al. 2016) including breeding pair photographed (Rezaie-Atagholipur et al. 2016). It is not known from museum records from the UAE. Museum specimens include those from Muscat, Oman (Boulenger 1887), Arabian Gulf and Iran (Gasperetti 1988).Globally, this species is found from the Arabian Gulf of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, east to Australia and Papua New Guinea and north to Viet Nam (Culotta and Pickwell 1993, Rasmussen et al. 2010).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
In the UAE, the species is known from a very small number of records and nothing is known of its habitat use. It may not be resident in the UAE, and occurrence may be vagrant or the result of transport in fishing gear or ship ballast disposal.This species occurs (Rasmussen et al. 2010) in shallow open seas, river mouths, estuaries, coastal lagoons, and in mangrove forests (Limpus 1975, Lim and Sawai 1975, Murthy 1977, Murthy and Rama Rao 1988, Venkateswarlu et al. 1995). It is found from 3.7-22.2 m (Redfield et al. 1978). It occurs over soft substrates such as mud and sand (Limpus 1975). It is also found in freshwater lakes in Cambodia and India and can travel up rivers. It is common in near-shore shallow waters and estuaries, especially in the soft bottom marine environments where its preferred prey, catfish, occur in high abundances (Rasmussen et al. 2010). Animals are active during the night and day and prefers water depths from less than 5 m to a maximum of 30 m (Leviton et al. 2003).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Occurrence in the UAE is very low and little is known of potential threats. Impacts from oils spills are likely, but there are no records of bycatch.
Publication
Els, J., Allen, D., Hilton-Taylor, C., Harding, K. (2019). UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles. MOCCAE, UAE
