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]
Like other sea snakes, it does not have gills and must periodically rise to the surface to breathe air using its lungs.[4]
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.[5]
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 1,700km away in the Ashmore and Hibernia Reefs in the Timor Sea,[1] from where it had since disappeared.[6]
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.[7]
↑ 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
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