LEVITON, BROWN, & SILER: PHILIPPINE VENOMOUS SNAKES 
501 
Genus Emydocephalus Krefft, 1869 
Emydocephalus KxQ&t, 1869:321.— Smith, 1926:26. 
Diagnosis. — Maxillary bone shorter than ectopterygoid and extends forward beyond pala¬ 
tine; no maxillary teeth present following the very small venom fangs; nostrils superior; nasal 
scales in contact with one another dorsally; scales in dorsum of head large; second upper labial 
scale very elongate; scales on body imbricate, in 15-19 longitudinal rows at midbody. 
Emydocephalus annulatus Krefft, 1869 
Annulated Sea Snake 
Emydocephalus annulatus Krefft, 1869:322.— Smith, 1926:26.— Alcala, 1986a:162.— David and Ineich, 
1999:91. 
Description. — Body of nearly uniform diameter throughout; head short, above covered with 
large, regular scales; rostral five-sided, usually with a projecting spine; prefrontals not in contact 
with upper labials; one preocular, two postocular scales; temporals small, 2 anterior, three posteri¬ 
or; upper labials 3, second very elongate; 4 lower labials; body scales in 15 longitudinal rows on 
neck, 15-17 around midbody, strongly imbricate; ventrals distinct, 125-145, with small tubercles 
and usually with a median keel; subcaudals 20-40, undivided; precloacal (anal) scale single; body 
color variable, uniform dark grey, brown to black above or yellowish white with 23-35 variegated 
brown or black rings; head variable, creamy white, yellowish, or dark brown or black, with dark or 
light markings. 
Size.— Total length 910 mm; tail length 110 mm. 
Distribution. — Philippines: according to Alcala (1986:163), “Probably all over Philippine 
seas” but without exact references. Elsewhere: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia (Irian), 
Loyalty Islands. 
Genus Hydrophis Latreille in Sonnini and Latreille, 1801 
Hydrophis Latriehe, 1802:193.—Smith, 1926:40; 1943:451.—McCarthy, 1993:229. 
Pelamis Daudin, 1803:361. Disteira LacepMe, 1804:210. 
Leioselasrna Lacepede, 1804:210. 
Lapemis Gray in Hardwicke and Gray, 1835, vol. 2, pi. 87, fig. 2.— Smith, 1926:108.— McCarthy, 
1993:243.— Rasmussen, 1996:22.— David and Ineich, 1999:121. 
Aturia Gray, 1842:61. 
Enhydrina Gray, 1849:47. 
Kerilia Gray, 1849:57.— Smith, 1926:31.— David and Ineich, 1999:120. 
Thalassophis Schmidt, 1852:75.— Smith, 1926:103.— David and Ineich, 1999:197. 
Astrotia Fischer, 1856:38,— Smith. 1926:113.— David and Ineich, 1999:63. 
Acalyptophis Bou\er\ger, 1896:269.— Smith, 1926:101. 
Praescutata WaW, 1921:390.— David and Ineich, 1999:176. 
Thalassophina Smith, 1926:33.— Rasmussen, 1997:23. 
Kolpophis ^mAh, 1926:106.— Rasmussen, 1996:23.— David and Ineich, 1999:120. 
Diagnosis. — Maxillary bone does not extend forward beyond palatine; 1-18 maxillary teeth 
behind venom fangs and separated by a small interval (diastema); nostrils superior; nasal scales in 
contact with one another or separated by elongate scales; dorsal head scales regular, large; body 
scales imbricate to juxtaposed; ventrals small, usually distinct and undivided. 
Remarks. — David and Ineich (1999:104) reviewed the controversy surrounding the use of 
the name Hydrophis to include several nominal taxa, Disteira, Leioselasrna, and Aturia that had 
