NRLD - 330123 | Hydrophis gracilis

Assessment ID

330123

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

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

chordata

Class

reptilia

Order

squamata

Family

elapidae

Genus

Hydrophis

Species

gracilis

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)

Country ISO code(s)

ARE

Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?

Not_assigned

Conservation Status

Assessed as

Data deficient

Abbreviated status

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

Year assessed

2018

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

Terrestrial

Not_assigned

Freshwater

Not_assigned

Marine

Not_assigned

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

UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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