Dusky sea snake
Marine waters off northwestern Australia (known only from Ashmore Reef and its nearby complexes).
Holotype: ZMB 2824
Type-locality: Asia. From Celebes [probably in error], according to Smith, 1926, Monogr. Sea Snakes, 130pp., who also referred to a specimen from Ashmore Reed as the type.
Die Timor-Riffschlange (Aipysurus fuscus), auch Riff-Seeschlange, zählt innerhalb der Familie der Giftnattern (Elapidae) zu den Seeschlangen. Sie kommt in den Gewässern um Timor vor. Im Norden erreicht ihr Ausbreitungsgebiet Sulawesi, im Süden die Küste Nordwestaustraliens, im Osten die Tanimbarinseln und im Westen Sumba. Dort lebt sie in Riffen, die mit Korallen bevölkert sind. Die Timor-Riffschlange erreicht eine Länge von 90 Zentimetern. Hinter den Giftzähnen befinden sich sechs bis acht weitere Zähne.[1]
Beschrieben wurde die Art 1837 von Tschudi als Stephanohydra fusca, 1926 wurde sie von Malcolm Arthur Smith unter ihrem heute gültigen Namen der Gattung Aipysurus zugeschlagen.[2]
Nach einem Giftbiss kommt es kaum zu lokalen Erscheinungen an der Bissstelle. Es können folgende unspezifische Beschwerden auftreten: Schwitzen, vermehrter Speichelfluss, Übelkeit, Erbrechen, Kopfschmerzen, Durchfall, Schwindel, Abdominalschmerzen, Krämpfe, Tachykardie oder Bradykardie und besonders im Falle einer allergischen Reaktion Hypotonie bis hin zum Schock. Das Toxingemisch der Timor-Riffschlange enthält postsynaptische Nervengifte, die als Antagonisten Nikotinrezeptoren blockieren und somit zu einer fortschreitenden Lähmung (anfänglich Ptosis, später gegebenenfalls massive Lähmung, Atemlähmung) mit Todesfolge führen können. Wahrscheinlich vorhandene Myotoxine können eine Myolyse und sekundäre Schädigung der Nieren bewirken.[3]
Die Timor-Riffschlange (Aipysurus fuscus), auch Riff-Seeschlange, zählt innerhalb der Familie der Giftnattern (Elapidae) zu den Seeschlangen. Sie kommt in den Gewässern um Timor vor. Im Norden erreicht ihr Ausbreitungsgebiet Sulawesi, im Süden die Küste Nordwestaustraliens, im Osten die Tanimbarinseln und im Westen Sumba. Dort lebt sie in Riffen, die mit Korallen bevölkert sind. Die Timor-Riffschlange erreicht eine Länge von 90 Zentimetern. Hinter den Giftzähnen befinden sich sechs bis acht weitere Zähne.
Beschrieben wurde die Art 1837 von Tschudi als Stephanohydra fusca, 1926 wurde sie von Malcolm Arthur Smith unter ihrem heute gültigen Namen der Gattung Aipysurus zugeschlagen.
Aipysurus fuscus, commonly known as the dusky sea snake or Timor Reef snake, is a species of sea snake in the family Elapidae.[2] It is found in the Timor Sea between Australia, Indonesia and East Timor and has been classified as endangered.[1]
A. fuscus tends to be dark, colored purplish brown, brown, or blackish brown above. It occasionally has paler bands on the lower flanks. The center of each lateral scale is occasionally darker, giving the appearance of longitudinal striations.[3] It is a member of the subfamily Hydrophiinae, or marine elapid snakes.[2] The species name of A. fuscus derives from the Latin term fuscus, which translates to "dusky" or "dark," in reference to the snake's coloration.[2] The species is thought to not usually grow beyond 78 centimeters (31 in) in length, although substantially larger specimens have been found. It is thought to reach reproductive maturity after three or four years, have an average generation time of five years, and an average lifespan of ten.[1]
The snake is venomous. It is also viviparous, or live-bearing.[2] A 2006 study suggested that it was most closely related to Aipysurus laevis, with which it has been documented as hybridizing.[2][4] It has been recorded as feeding on fish eggs and eels, as well as on wrasses and gobies. The species has a shallow depth range, generally from the surface down to 12 meters (39 ft).[1]
A. fuscus primarily inhabits reefs in shallow marine habitats. It has occasionally been recorded at depths of up to 30 metres (98 ft).[1] The only reliable reports of this species in the wild are from the Timor Sea, from the reefs of Ashmore, Cartier and Hibernia of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and the reefs of Scott and Seringapatam. Not more than five subpopulations are thought to exist, and the overall population is severely fragmented. The type specimen was reported as being collected off the coast of Sulawesi, but this location has been called into question. This, combined with the observation that the species only uses a small depth range, has led the International Union for Conservation of Nature to conclude that the snake has a range of less than 500 square kilometers (190 sq mi).[1]
Catch rates for the species declined drastically between 1998 and 2007, in which year no specimens were found. The estimated decline in the population of A. fuscus is at least 70%.[1] The specific threats to this snake are poorly understood, but they are suspected to have been affected by coral bleaching and general decreases in the health of their ecosystems. These data have led to its being classified as endangered.[1] Ashmore reef, one of five inhabited by A. fuscus, has been a nature reserve since 1983.[1]
Aipysurus fuscus, commonly known as the dusky sea snake or Timor Reef snake, is a species of sea snake in the family Elapidae. It is found in the Timor Sea between Australia, Indonesia and East Timor and has been classified as endangered.
Aipysurus fuscus Aipysurus generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Hydrophiidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Aipysurus fuscus Aipysurus generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Hydrophiidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Aipysurus fuscus est une espèce de serpents de la famille des Elapidae[1].
Cette espèce marine se rencontre dans les eaux de l'Australie, de l'Indonésie et du Timor oriental en mer de Timor près des récifs Ashmore, Hibernia, Scott, Serangipatan et de l'île Cartier[1].
Aipysurus fuscus là một loài rắn trong họ Rắn hổ. Loài này được Tschudi mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1837.[1]
Aipysurus fuscus là một loài rắn trong họ Rắn hổ. Loài này được Tschudi mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1837.
