Taxon name
Hydrophis gracilis
(Shaw, 1802)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Hydrophis gracilis
(Shaw, 1802)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
(Shaw, 1802)
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
This species has also been treated under the genus Microcephalophis, 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
This species is present in United Arab Emirate waters, with confirmed records from the Arabian Gulf (from small numbers of strandings) and the Gulf of Oman, however, there are no data available on population size and trend, and the distribution is not well understood. The species is considered Data Deficient for the UAE at present because the available data are inadequate to assign the species to either Least Concern or a threatened category, and research into this and other sea snakes should be a priority.
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
This species is confirmed in United Arab Emirate waters (Soorae et al. 2006, Egan 2007, Gardner 2013, Buzás et al. 2018), with confirmed records from the Arabian Gulf (from small numbers of strandings) and the Gulf of Oman, where it is found up to 5.9-6.2 km offshore (Géczy et al. 2017, Buzás et al. 2018). The depth range is not certain, but likely to be found to c.55 m depth along the east coast. Museum records are available for the UAE in the Al Mayya Sanctuary, Fujairah.Globally, the species is found in the Arabian and Oman Gulfs, east to Indonesia, the Gulf of Papua and China (Culotta and Pickwell 1993, Heatwole 1999). Its range includes Hong Kong in the east and Australia to the south (Kharin 2004).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Within UAE waters, this species has been observed far offshore at more extreme depths compared to other sea snake species (Egan 2007). It appears to prefer clear waters with a sandy or coral substrate (Gardner 2013). This is bottom-dwelling species (B. Buzás pers. comm. 2018).Globally, this species occurs in mangrove swamps and around coastal reefs (Minton 1966, Heatwole 1975). This species forages on sand and specializes in feeding on eels.
Threats and conservation measures listed
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).
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
