Northern mangrove seasnake

The northern mangrove seasnake (Parahydrophis mertoni), also known commonly as the Arafura smooth seasnake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia and New Guinea.

Northern mangrove seasnake
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Parahydrophis
Species:	P. mertoni
Binomial name
Parahydrophis mertoni (Roux, 1910)
Synonyms[2]
Distira mertoni Roux, 1910 Hydrophis mertoni — de Rooij, 1917 Parahydrophis mertoni — Burger & Natsuno, 1974

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1910 as Distira mertoni by Jean Roux.^[3][4] It was transferred to the genus, Parahydrophis, in 1974 by Burger and Netsuno.

Etymology

The specific name, mertoni, is in honor of German zoologist Hugo Merton.^[5]

Geographic range

Parahydrophis mertoni is found in Northern Australia^[3] in Northern Territory and Queensland. It is also found in New Guinea in the Arafura Sea.^[2] It is found in the inter-tidal zone.^[1]

Description

Parahydrophis mertoni is blackish-olive with about 46 yellow rings on the body and ten on the tail. The head shields are spotted with yellow, except for the rostral and labials which are black.^[6]

Reproduction

Parahydrophis mertoni is viviparous.^[2]