Fig. 80.—Hydrophis elegans. (After Krefft.)
H. elegans ([fig. 80]).—Yellowish-white, back with transverse rhomboidal black spots, separated by a series of small black spots; belly with black spots or cross-bars; head blackish, with a more or less distinct light crescentic marking across the snout, from above the eyes.
Total length, 710 millimetres; tail 60.
Habitat: North coast of Australia.
H. gracilis.—Bluish-black or greyish, olive above in the adult, with more or less distinct lighter cross-bands anteriorly. Young sometimes with rhombic black cross-bands extending to the belly, or sub-interrupted on the sides.
Total length, 1,020 millimetres; tail 90.
Habitat: Coasts of Persia, India, and Ceylon; Malay Archipelago.
H. cantoris.—Body dark olive or blackish anteriorly, with yellowish cross-bands above; posterior part of body olive above, yellowish on the sides; tail with olive vertical bars; a blackish streak along the belly.
Total length, 1,100 millimetres; tail 90.
Habitat: Bay of Bengal.