Animal Profile IUCN: LC

Praescutata viperina

Praescutata viperina，Black-tailed sea snake, Sea viper

The Latin name of the sea viper is Praescutata viperina, which is a species of the genus Praescutata in the family Elaphedae.Sea vipers live in the ocean, often in shallow waters. They feed on fish. They are ovoviviparous.Listed in the "National List of Terrestrial Wildlife with Important Econo

Squamata 2022-11-15 16:19:11 1537 views

Scientific Name Praescutata viperina，Black-tailed sea snake, Sea viper

Length About 100 cm

Weight No verification information

Lifespan About 20 years

IUCN Status LC

Table of Contents

The Latin name of the sea viper is Praescutata viperina, which is a species of the genus Praescutata in the family Elaphedae.

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Sea vipers live in the ocean, often in shallow waters. They feed on fish. They are ovoviviparous.

Listed in the "National List of Terrestrial Wildlife with Important Economic and Scientific Research Value" issued by the State Forestry Administration of China on August 1, 2000.

Listed in the second level of the "National List of Key Protected Wildlife in China".

Protect wild animals and eliminate game.

Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!

Profile Details

Key characteristics, appearance, and habitat information.

Traits & Behavior

The head and neck are not clearly distinguished; the body is relatively short and thick, slightly flattened laterally, and the tail is flattened laterally

Appearance

The total length is about 1 meter. The head is short and slightly flat, the snout is blunt, the nostrils are dorsal, and the nasal scales are tangent to each other; the body is stout. There are 7 (3-1-3) or 8 (3-2-3) scales on the upper lip, and no cheek scales; there are 1 (2) preorbital scales, 2 (3) postorbital scales; there are 2+3 temporal scales, which vary greatly. There are 27-35 rows of dorsal scales in the neck, 40-51 rows in the middle, and 36 rows of preanal scales, which are hexagonal, arranged in an inlaid pattern, with ridges or tubercles; there are 239-300 ventral scales, which are small, with double ridges, wider in the front and narrower in the back; there are 2 anal scales, and 53 pairs of subcaudal scales. The back is gray or blue-gray, with 25-46 black or dark brown diamond-shaped horizontal stripes; the ventral surface and sides are grayish white, grayish yellow or light yellow.

Distribution & Habitat

Distribution in China: Liaoning, Fujian (Pingtan, Lianjiang), Taiwan, Guangdong (Jiazi, Shanwei), Hainan (Haikou, Dongfang), Guangxi (Beihai)
Inhabits coastal coral reefs, sandy bottoms, and aquatic grass areas.

Visual guide