Arabian Gulf sea snake (Hydrophis lapemoides )
Family Hydrophiidae

Description: 100cm or more in length. Bulky, but with a relatively small head. Yellow, sometimes pale dull green or grey, with dark bands along the length of the body. Top of the head usually dark with a narrow yellow band forward of the small eyes. Undersides pale. Laterally flattened tail, diagnostic of all sea snakes. Very similar in appearance to the annulated sea snake (H. cyanocynctus ).

Habitat: Warm, shallow waters over reefs, seagrass or sand.

Range: Throughout the UAE. Common in the Arabian Gulf. In the Gulf of Oman, only in nearshore shallow water.

Comments: Named after the Arabian Gulf, this species is nevertheless apparently found throughout the Arabian region. Like all sea snakes, it is dangerous and a bite can be fatal. However, it is generally docile.