Rough-Scaled Sea Snake
Hydrophis stokesii
A heavily built sea snake with distinctly rough, keeled scales.
- Adult length
- 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft)
- Range
- Tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, including Australia and Southeast Asia
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Overview
The rough-scaled sea snake, also called Stokes' sea snake, is a large, robust marine elapid found throughout tropical Indo-Pacific waters, including northern Australia and Southeast Asia. It is notable for its unusually thick body and rough, keeled scalation, which sets it apart from the generally smooth-scaled sea snakes.
It is an offshore, deep-water species.
How to identify it
- Exceptionally stout, thick body compared to most other sea snakes
- Strongly keeled, rough-textured body scales, giving rise to its common name
- Pale grey to yellowish coloration with darker grey-brown crossbands or diamond-shaped blotches
- Large, wide head
- Laterally compressed, paddle-shaped tail
- Adults typically reach 1.2-1.5 m and are notably heavy-bodied for their length
Habitat & range
Found in tropical coastal and offshore waters across the Indo-Pacific, including northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and parts of Southeast Asia. Often associated with turbid, soft-bottomed continental shelf waters, and can occur at greater depths than many other sea snake species.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Feeds on fish, including catfish and other benthic species. Generally sluggish and slow-moving compared to more active sea snake species. Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with live young born at sea.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the rough-scaled sea snake unusual?
It has distinctly rough, keeled scales and an unusually stout body compared to most other sea snakes.
Where is the rough-scaled sea snake found?
It occurs in tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, including northern Australia and Southeast Asia.
How big does it get?
Adults typically reach 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) and are notably heavy-bodied.
Rough-Scaled Sea Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Rough-Scaled Sea Snake.
