Lapemis Gray

Rasmussen, Arne Redsted, Elmberg, Johan, Gravlund, Peter & Ineich, Ivan, 2011, Sea snakes (Serpentes: subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae) in Vietnam: a comprehensive checklist and an updated identification key, Zootaxa 2894, pp. 1-20 : 8

Lapemis Gray

Lapemis curtus (Shaw) : ( Smith, 1926; Bourret, 1934, 1936; Shuntov, 1962; Pickwell, 1972; Tu, 1974; Harding & Welch, 1980; Tran & Nguyên, 1980; Kharin, 1984b; Golay et al., 1993; Tran & Nguyên, 1995; Nguyên & Hó, 1996; Dotsenko, 1999; Nguyên et al., 2005; Kharin, 2006; Rasmussen et al., 2007; Nguyên et al., 2009).

Diagnostic characters: Scales in the lowermost three or four lateral rows are larger than the others. Scale rows around neck 23–35; scale rows around body 25–43. Ventrals small, 114–230, usually distinct anteriorly, very small or absent posteriorly. Maxillary teeth behind fangs 3–6. Colouration: Body greenish or yellowish above, whitish below, with dark greenish to black bands, which sometimes fuse longitudinally dorsally, narrowing laterally. However, in some specimens bands meet below, encircling the body. Size: 110 cm. General distribution: From Arabian Gulf to Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and Australian region ( David & Ineich, 1999; Rasmussen & Ineich, 2000). Remarks: One of the most frequently caught sea snakes by trawling boats in Asia. Lapemis hardwickii is a synonym of L. curtus ( Gritis & Voris, 1990)