Peters's Sea Snake

This sea snake, more widely known as the horned or spiny-headed sea snake (Hydrophis peronii, formerly placed in the genus Acalyptophis), is a marine elapid found in shallow coastal waters of northern Australia and parts of Southeast Asia.

The species is notable among sea snakes for the raised, spine-like scales on its head and body, an unusual feature that distinguishes it from the smooth-scaled majority of sea snakes and gives it its "horned" common name.

• Moderately robust body with raised, spine-like scales, most conspicuous on the head
• Pale grey to yellowish-brown coloration with dark grey-brown blotches or bands
• Head relatively broad, bearing the projecting spiny scales that give the horned sea snake its name
• Keeled, pointed body scales rather than the smooth scales of many relatives
• Laterally compressed, paddle-shaped tail
• Adults typically reach 0.6-1.0 m in length

Inhabits shallow coastal waters, sandy flats, and continental shelf areas with soft substrates. Distribution includes northern Australia and parts of Southeast Asia, where it forages over sandy and turbid bottoms.

Feeds on small fish, especially gobies, located along the seabed. Forages over open sandy bottoms, using venom to subdue prey. Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with live young born at sea in small litters.