22 



ON THE OCCURRENCE IN TASMANIA OF 



HYDRUS PLATURUS, Linn, a) 



By Clive E. Loed, 



Curator of the Tasmanian Museum. 



(Received 5tli May, 1919. Read 10th June, 1919.) 



Tasmania is usually credited with three terrestrial 

 and one aquatic snake. The latter species — P. laticrmdatus 

 — has only been noted on rare occasions. It is interesft- 

 ing, therefore, to record that a second aquatic species has 

 been found on the Tasmanian Coast. A specimen re- 

 cently forwarded to the Museum from Scamander, on the 

 East Coast, proves to be a tyj^ical example of the Spotted- 

 tailed Sea Snake {Ilydrus phifurvs). This is the firsit 

 record of this species for Tasmania, and it may be of in- 

 terest to quote certain particulars regarding its discovery. 



Mr. J. Stanley Hodgson, who kindly forwarded the 

 specimen to the Museum, has (5/5/1919) given me the fol- 

 lowing information: — "My daughter and self found the 

 snake at Shelly Point, about two miles north 'of . Sca- 

 mander. He was basking in the sun, laid on a heap of 

 seaweed. At first I took him for an eel, and killed him 

 with the intention of eating him, but on picking him tip 

 I soon found that there was nothing of the' eel about 

 him, and, as nobody seemed to know exactly what he 

 M'as, I sent him to you.' 



The range of this snake is usually given as the Tropi- 

 cal and Sub-Tropical Pacific, and I know of no previotis re- 

 cord of its occurrence in Tasmanian seas. The present 

 record should, therefore, be of interest. 



(1) Kef.— Boulanger; Cat. Snakes, Brit. Mus. (1896), Vol. III., 

 p. 26. 



