Taxon name
Hydrophis lapemoides
(Gray, 1849)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Hydrophis lapemoides
(Gray, 1849)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
(Gray, 1849)
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
This species is sometimes treated under the genus Chitulia.
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
Least Concern
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
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, and it breeds 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.
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, 2010; Buzás et al. 2018). It is found in both the Arabian Gulf and in the Gulf of Oman. Breeding has been confirmed in the waters off the east coast (Géczy et al. 2017, Buzás et al. 2018). On the east coast, it is found from 2.7-9.7 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 records are available for the UAE in the Al Mayya Sanctuary, Fujairah. Recent museum specimens include those from Muscat, Oman (Boulenger 1887), Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz (Gasperetti 1988). The first museum specimens for the region were collected in Dubai and Sharjah (Arabian Gulf, UAE) by M.D. Gallagher in 1972 (Gasperetii 1988).Globally, this species is found in the Arabian Gulf eastwards to India and Sri Lanka (Culotta and Pickwell 1993, Heatwole 1999), and to the west coast of peninsular Thailand, Melanesia and Singapore (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
This is a shallow-water species found over open sandy substrates in shallow water up to 45 m depth. Feed possibly on eels, goboids, and flatfish. In captivity, a wide range of fish are accepted (Egan 2007). The species breeds in UAE waters.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no widespread threats. As with all sea snakes, this species is vulnerable to indirect threats from habitat loss and climate change throughout its range. 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).
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
