Aipysurus foliosquama

Aipysurus foliosquama, also known as the leaf-scaled sea snake, is a critically endangered species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae it is know to be related to mambas. It was formerly endemic to the Ashmore and Cartier Islands of Australia,[1] having thought to have become extinct there. In 2015, the snake was discovered in seagrass beds of Shark Bay off Western Australia.[2]

Leaf-scaled sea snake
Museum specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Aipysurus
Species:
A. foliosquama
Binomial name
Aipysurus foliosquama
Smith, 1926

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1926. The combination Smithohydrophis foliosquama (Kharin 1981) is recognised as a synonym.[1]

Description

The recorded length is around 800 millimetres and coloration is purple brown. A poorly known species, the diet is known to consist of wrasse and gudgeon fish that are pursued through coral outcrops and crevices.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The distribution range of the species has contracted since its first identification, and is currently known from a declining population inhabiting Shark Bay on the western coast of Australia.[1] The leaf-scaled sea snake prefers waters up to 10 metres in depth.[4]

In December 2015 a population of the snakes was found living in seagrass beds of Shark Bay off Western Australia.[2] Previously, its only known habitats were some 1,700 km away in the Ashmore and Hibernia Reefs in the Timor Sea,[1] from where it had since disappeared.[5]

Conservation status

The range of Aipysurus foliosquama has significantly decreased and population is significantly declining, the IUCN lists their status as data deficient.[1] It is listed as one of The World's 100 Most Threatened Species.[6]

References
  1. Sanders, K.; Crowe-Riddell, J.M.; Courtney, T.; Rasmussen, A.R. (2021). "Aipysurus foliosquama". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T176714A83765016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T176714A83765016.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. "Scientists discover rare sea snakes, previously thought extinct, off Western Australia". phys.org. December 21, 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  3. Sanders, K. (February 2013). "Australian endangered species: Sea snakes". The Conversation.
  4. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=1118
  5. D'Anastasi, B.R.; van Herwerden, L.; Hobbs, J.A.; Simpfendorfer, C.A.; Lukoschek, V. (2016), "New range and habitat records for threatened Australian sea snakes raise challenges for conservation", Biological Conservation, 194: 66–70, doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.11.032
  6. Baillie, Jonathan E M; Ellen R Butcher (2012). Priceless or Worthless? (PDF). ZoolFlyway to wintering grounds in Indiaogical Society of London. ISBN 978-0-900881-67-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-21.


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