The spectacled sea snake (Hydrophis kingii), also known commonly as King's sea snake, is species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to waters off northern Australia and the southern coast of New Guinea.
Etymology The specific name, kingii, is in honor of Australian marine surveyor Philip Parker King.Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Disteira kingii, p. 141).
Description H. kingii usually attains a total length (including tail) of not more than . The head is black, and a there is a white ring around the eye. The anterior chin shields are in contact with the mental groove. The dorsal scales are keeled, and overlapping.Wilson S, Swan G (2023). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Sixth Edition. Sydney: Reed New Holland Publishers. 688 pp. . (Hydrophis kingii, pp. 656–657).
Habitat The preferred natural habitat of H. kingii is marine waters, to a depth of , with a muddy or sandy bottom.
Diet H. kingii preys upon small fishes.
Reproduction H. kingii is ovoviviparous.
Venom H. kingii is dangerously venomous.
References
Further reading Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Hydrophis kingii, new species, pp. 276–277). Cogger HG (2018). Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia, Updated Seventh Edition. Clayton South, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxxii + 1,060 pp. . (Hydrophis kingii, p. 962). Smith M (1926). Monograph of the Sea-Snakes (Hydrophiidæ). London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xx + 130 pp. + Plates I–II. ("Hydrophis kingi [sic]", pp. 46–47).