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Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update: December 31st, 2022.


Taxonomy of the family Elapidae [marine species]
Bibliography of the genus Microcephalophis
Biodiversity of the family Elapidae [marine species]








Genus
Microcephalophis

Small-headed Sea Snakes

Kleinkopf-Seeschlangen

Småhovedede Havslanger

1801 Microcephalophis Latreille (type species: Hydrus gracilis Shaw 1802)
1842 Liopala Gray (type species: Hydrus gracilis Shaw 1802; syn. Sanders, Lee, Mumpuni, Bertozzi & Rasmussen 2013 [by implication])
Contents: 2 species, none of which are endemic.
Endemism: 0% 100%
Remarks: Status of this genus has been controversial, regarded either as a valid genus (e.g., Gasperetti 1988; Stuebing 1991, 1994; Das 1994, 1996; Murphy, Cox & Voris 1999; Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014) or as a synonym of Hydrophis (Williams & Wallach 1989). Validity confirmed by Sanders, Lee, Mumpuni, Bertozzi & Rasmussen (2013).
Distribution: N. Indian Ocean, SE. Asia, Malay Archipelago.
Reported from: Australia (Queensland [incl. Torres Strait Islands]), Bangladesh, China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong), India (Andaman & Nicobar Islands [Andaman Islands], Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal), Indonesia (Bangka, Java, Kalimantan, Madura, Sumatra), Iran, Iraq, Malaysia (Sabah, West Malaysia), Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea), Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.

Microcephalophis cantoris

Spotted Small-headed Sea Snake, (Cantor's Small-headed Sea Snake, Günther’s Sea Snake)

Gefleckter Kleinkopf-Seeschlange

Plettet Småhovedet Havslange

1864 Hydrophis cantoris Günther
Distira cantoris Wall 1909
Microcephalophis cantoris Wall 1921
Disteira cantoris Witte 1933
1899 Distira gillespiae Boulenger (Golay & al. 1993)

Remarks: Not mentioned for Kerala by Palot (2015).
Distribution: Bangladesh, India (Andaman & Nicobar Islands [Andaman Islands], Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu), Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand.


Microcephalophis gracilis

Graceful Small-headed Sea Snake, Common Small-headed Sea Snake, Small-headed Slender Sea Snake, Slender Sea Snake, Banded Small-headed Sea Snake, Gracile Small-headed Sea Snake, Graceful Sea Snake, Narrow-headed Sea Snake, (John's Sea Snake)

Gebänderte Kleinkopf-Seeschlange

Båndet Småhovedet Havslange

1802 Hydrus gracilis Shaw
Enhydris gracilis Merrem 1820
Disteira gracilis Fitzinger 1826
Pelamis gracilis Gray 1831
Microcephalophis gracilis Lesson 1834
Hydrophis gracilis Duméril, Bibron & Duméril 1854
Distira gracilis Wall 1909
1827 Hydrophis kadell-nagam Boie (Golay & al. 1993)
1852 Thalassophis microcephala Schmidt (Golay & al. 1993)
Hydrophis microcephala Duméril, Bibron & Duméril 1854
Microcephalophis gracilis microcephalus Smith 1926
1856 Hydrophis leprogaster Duméril & Bibron in Fischer (Golay & al. 1993)
1868 Hydrophis guentheri Theobald (Golay & al. 1993)
1917 Hydrophis rostralis Smith (Golay & al. 1993)
Disteira rostralis Werner 1924

Remarks: Not mentioned for Kerala by Palot (2015). Presence in Kuwait, although reported by Geniez (2018), is regarded as doubtful herein, following Amr, Alenezi, Al-Sayegh & Baker (2021), who did not include the species for the country.
Distribution: Australia (Queensland [incl. Torres Strait Islands]), Bangladesh, China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong), India (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal), Indonesia (Bangka, Java, Kalimantan, Madura, Sumatra), Iran, Iraq, Malaysia (Sabah, West Malaysia), Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea), Philippines (Luzon), Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.