Grey's mudsnake

Grey's mudsnake (Ephalophis greyae), also known commonly as Grey's sea snake, the mangrove seasnake, and the north-western mangrove sea snake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to northwestern Australia.^[3]

Grey's mudsnake
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Ephalophis M.A. Smith, 1931
Species:	E. greyae
Binomial name
Ephalophis greyae M.A. Smith, 1931
Synonyms[2]
Ephalophis greyi M.A. Smith, 1931 Ephalophis greyae — Shea, 1996 Ephalophis greyae — Wallach et al., 2014

Etymology

Its specific name, greyae, has also been spelled greyi; however, it was named after a Beatrice Grey who collected the holotype,^[4] necessitating a feminine possessive.

Geographic range

E. greyae is found along the northwestern coast of the Australian state of Western Australia, from Shark Bay to Kimberley Region.^[1]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of E. greyae are mud flats, salt flats, the marine intertidal zone, and the marine neritic zone, to a depth of 10 m (33 ft).^[1]

Description

A small species of sea snake, E. greyae may attain a total length (including tail) of 66 cm (26 in).^[2]

Diet

E. greyae preys upon fishes, especially gobies and their eggs.^[1]

Reproduction

E. greyae is viviparous.^[2]