The dangerously venomous snake Microcephalophis cantoris (formerly known as Hydrophis cantoris) occurs in coastal waters around Myanmar as well as from Pakistan (Karachi) and eastward, including India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia. According to Leviton et al. (2003), habitat unknown. Leviton et al. provide a technical description of Microcephalophis cantoris: Head small, body long and slender anteriorly; scales on thickest part of body juxtaposed; 5-6 maxillary teeth behind fangs; 23-25 (rarely 21) scale rows around neck, 41-48 around thickest part of body (increase from neck to midbody 18-24); ventrals divided by a longitudinal fissure; prefrontal in contact with third upper labial; ventrals 404-468. Total length: males 1450 mm, females 1880 mm; tail length males 120 mm, females 140 mm.
Marine waters of Pakistan, western India, Myanmar and west coast of west Malaysia.
Holotype: BMNH 1946.1.18.30 (formerly BMNH 1860.3.19.1302).
Type-locality: Penang, Malaysia
Hydrophis cantoris, also known commonly as Cantor's narrow-headed sea snake and Cantor's small-headed sea snake, is a species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae.
The specific name, cantoris, is in honor of Danish zoologist Theodore Edward Cantor.[3]
H.cantoris has the following diagnostic characters: Head small, body long and slender anteriorly; scales on thickest part of body juxtaposed; 5-6 maxillary teeth behind fangs; 23-25 (rarely 21) dorsal scale rows at neck, 41-48 at thickest part of body (increase from neck to midbody 18–24); ventrals divided by a longitudinal fissure; prefrontal in contact with third upper labial; ventrals 404–468.[4]
The maximum recorded total length (including tail) of males is 1,450 mm (57 in), and of females is 1,880 mm (74 in). The maximum tail length of males is 120 mm (4.7 in), and of females is 140 mm (5.5 in).[4]
Indian Ocean (Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Myanmar (= Burma), Thailand, Malaysia), Andaman Islands.[2]
The preferred natural habitat of H. cantoris is the marine neritic zone, at depths of 20 m (66 ft) or less.[1]
H. cantoris is viviparous.[2]
Hydrophis cantoris, also known commonly as Cantor's narrow-headed sea snake and Cantor's small-headed sea snake, is a species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae.
