Identification:
Morphological Characteristics:
The head is short and slightly flattened. The snout is broad and rounded, with the eye diameter approximately equal to the distance from the eye’s edge to the lip. It has one preocular scale, two postocular scales, eight supralabial scales, four infralabial scales, two temporal scales, 34 scale rows around the neck, 47 scale rows around the body, and 249 ventral scales. The dorsal surface is gray, and the ventral surface is yellowish-white. It exhibits 25-35 dark brown, diamond-shaped markings that cross the body and extend down to the mid-flank. The typical size ranges from 1-1.4 meters in length, averaging 1.2 meters.
Biology and Ecology:
The primary diet consists of small schooling fish (Calliomymidae). It inhabits the surface waters of coastal areas and is a highly venomous species.
Distribution:
Vietnam: Found from the Gulf of Tonkin along the Vietnamese coastline to the Gulf of Thailand.
Global: India, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Indonesia.
Value:
It has scientific and medicinal value, benefiting human health.
Conservation Status:
Populations have significantly declined due to exploitation. The threat level is considered “V” (Vulnerable).
Recommended Conservation Measures:
Restrict exploitation and fishing of sea snakes in general, and specifically this species.