Hydrophis semperi

Hydrophis semperi

Lake taal snake, Garman's sea snake, Philippine freshwater sea snake, Luzon sea snake

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SPECIES
Hydrophis semperi

Hydrophis semperi, commonly known as the Lake Taal snake, Garman's sea snake, the Philippine freshwater sea snake, and the Luzon sea snake, is a rare species of venomous sea snake found only in a single lake on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is noted for being one of two known species of sea snakes that are known to be found almost-exclusively in freshwater. The other freshwater sea snake species is Laticauda crockeri.

Animal name origin

The specific name, semperi, is in honor of German zoologist Carl Gottfried Semper.

Appearance

Like all "true" sea snakes, H. semperi is a rather heavyset snake, elongated with a small head. It possesses the characteristic flattened, paddle-like tail found in the members of its subfamily. This particular species is considered short in comparison to the rest of the family; adult specimens of H. semperi that have been caught have a total length (including tail) of 50 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in). The snake is colored much like a typical sea snake, having a dark blue or black body with narrow yellow (sometimes white) crossbands. Like its close relatives, its nostrils are located almost dorsally, with valves that prevent water from entering its nasal (and oral) cavities when the snake is submerged.

Geography

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Habits and Lifestyle

Very little is known about the life history of H. semperi, including its ecology and breeding cycles.

Diet and Nutrition

As with "true" sea snakes, H. semperi is piscivorous, feeding primarily on the numerous fish species that are known to dwell in Taal Lake's murky waters.

Population

Population number

Since so little is known about the reproductive habits of the species H. semperi, there have been virtually no estimates of the snake's population. Like many other species endemic to the lake, it is vulnerable as a species to any anthropogenic effects on the lake's ecosystem, both direct and indirect. Pollution is always a major issue when it comes to enclosed bodies of water with numerous surrounding human settlements. The numerous commercial establishments, towns and plantations dumping chemicals and sewage into the lake, combined with the dense population of fish farms in the lake's waters may yet have an adverse effect on the health of the species as a whole. In addition, while the snake itself has no commercial value and is not harvested, it suffers from the typical human stigma that is often attributed to snakes. Fishermen that frequently encounter the docile snakes have been known to kill them simply because of what they are.

References

1. Hydrophis semperi Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrophis_semperi
2. Hydrophis semperi on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/176747/7296443

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