The Dubois’ Seasnake is moderately built snake of variable colour. Darker specimens are usually found west of Torres Strait, and paler specimens to the east. Typically, the concealed surface of the scale contrasts with the dark brown exposed surface. This produces a reticulate (net-like) pattern in the body scales when the body is extended. The scales of the lower flanks are more typically white, forming wedge-shaped pale areas extending to the upper surface. All head shields with the exception of the rostral scale and the nasals are fragmented into small irregular scales. The body scales are imbricate and in 19 rows at the mid-body. Ventral scales are broad and vary from 150–165. The anal scale is divided. Subcaudal scales vary from 23–35. The Dubois’ Seasnake grows to 109 cm in snout vent length (Cogger 1975, 1996; Fry et al. 2001; Smith 1926).
Dubois' Seasnake |
Aipysurus duboisii
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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IUCN Red List Assessment, Aipysurus duboisii
Climate change may thus threaten all sea snakes which are coral reef specialists (Francis 2006).