LEVITON, BROWN, & SILER: PHILIPPINE VENOMOUS SNAKES 
511 
Size.— Total length 1400 mm; tail 
length 180 mm (but rarely exeeeding 
1100 mm total length). 
Distribution. — Philippines 
(although there are no speeifie reeords, 
its wide range and oeeurrenee in the 
South China Sea in muddy bottoms of 
eoastal waters and at the mouths of 
streams, makes its oeeurrenee in the 
eoastal waters of southwestern Philip¬ 
pines likely). Elsewhere: Persian/Arabi¬ 
an Gulf (Iraq, Iran), Oman, Pakistan, 
India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, 
Singapore, Indonesia, east to New 
Guinea and Australia (David and Ineieh 
1999:92). 
Remarks. — Stuebing and Inger note that “The Beaked Sea Snake is a dangerous speeies, 
with potent venom and a reputation in Peninsula Malaysia for biting fishermen. Beeause of its pref- 
erenee for muddy bottoms, it is sometimes trod upon in shallow tidal flats by people who wade 
barefoot while netting prawns.” (Stuebing and Inger 1999:207.) 
Hydrophis semperi Garman, 1881 
Lake Taal Sea snake 
Figure 46 
Hydrophis semperi Garman, 1881:85.— Smith, 1926:63.— MeCarthy, 
1993:240.—David and Ineieh, 1999:118. 
Description. — Head moderate, body not eompressed ante¬ 
riorly, greatest diameter about twiee that of the neck; 6-8 maxil¬ 
lary teeth behind fangs; scales on body imbricate and with short 
keel, 29-21 around neck, 37-43 around body (increase of 
10-12); ventrals 314—356, distinct throughout, bicarinate, about 
twice as broad as adjacent scales; precloacal scales enlarged; 
head black, body black with 50 to 60 narrow whitish bands of 
annuli, ventral scales usually black. 
Size.— Total length (cJ) 550 mm, (?) 725; tail length (cJ) 
55 mm, (?) 650 mm. 
Distribution. — Endemic to Philippines (Luzon [Prov.: 
Batangas {Lake Taal} ]). 
SsTTVC.T’ 
Figure 46. Hydrophis semperi 
Garman, 1881. Illustrations by Emily 
M. Eng. 
Figure 45. Hydrophis [Enhydrina] schistosus (Daudin, 1803) 
(inset: closeup view of head). Photos eourtesy of Harold Voris. 
Hydrophis spiralis (Shaw, 1802) 
Yellow Sea Snake 
Figures 25A, 26C-D 
Hydrus spiralis Shaw, 1802:564, pi. 125. 
Hydrophis spiralis. Smith, 1926:48. 
Description. — Head moderate, body elongate, body diameter posteriorly about twice that of 
neck; 6-7 maxillary teeth behind fangs; 25-31 scale rows around nexk, 33-38 at midbody, scales 
