Hydrophis curtus (Shaw, 1802)

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 274

Hydrophis curtus (Shaw, 1802) — Erroneous.

Spine-bellied Sea Snake

Singapore records.

Hydrus pelamidoides — Cantor, 1847c: 1057.

Enhydris curtus — Boulenger, 1912: 192.

Lapemis curtus —Sworder, 1923: 70.— Chanhome et al., 2011: 320.

Remarks. Cantor (1847c) mentioned that H. curtus is rare in Singapore based on catches in fishing nets. Boulenger (1912) noted that H. curtus was obtained in Singapore during the Skeat Expedition; however, Laidlaw’s (1902) account of this species says the specimens were taken at Singgora, Thailand. Numerous specimens of H. curtus have been brought to the Kangkar Fish Market and deposited in different museums, but none have locality data, except for a few collected around Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pedra Branca (which have been excluded; refer to “A note on sea snakes in Singapore ” above). Since there are inconsistencies regarding the localities of Cantor’s specimens and the museum specimens lack specific locality data, we refrain from including H. curtus into Singapore’s herpetofauna checklist. Due to taxonomic confusion between H. curtus and H. hardwickii , some records of H. curtus refer to H. hardwickii (see account above).

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens.

Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): FMNH, LSUMZ, QM.