Elapidae · Global account with Philippine editorial coverage
Hydrophis hardwickii(GRAY, 1834)
Venom: Basic classification explicitly recorded in the species account. Detailed effects and medical significance have not yet been summarised here.
Species account, Comments
Venom effects and medical significance are different from toxicity rankings. Do not handle a snake on the basis of this summary.
The diagnosis describes a stocky body and a relatively broad neck. The lowest lateral scale rows are enlarged, while the small ventral scales become less distinct towards the rear. Its atlas account links 2 named island or island-group records to the source literature.
Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending
Explore the island records ↓Species portrait
Hydrophis hardwickii
Image to followThe illustrated collection
Adult · study plate
Hydrophis hardwickii
Image to followJuvenile · study plate
Hydrophis hardwickii
Image to followLife stages will be labelled from the contributor’s information. Images alone do not establish identification or a locality record.
Media provenance
Contributor images are forthcoming. Photographs and illustrations will retain their individual credits, permissions and evidence notes.
One species · Across borders
Countries and territories named in the checked sources. Island links and country lists use these same occurrence records; a country record does not imply presence on every island.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
Indonesia or Indonesian waters explicitly listed; no precise Indonesian island assignment supported.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
RDB warns that the range is not fully corrected after resurrection of H. hardwickii; this country list is provisional at that species boundary.
Checked 7 October 2026. Listed, introduced and uncertain records remain distinct. Islands not yet indexed are not claims of absence. Broad references such as “Borneo” or “New Guinea” are not automatically assigned to every country sharing the island.
Explicit Indonesian country or island locality supports inclusion.
A closer look
The diagnosis describes a stocky body and a relatively broad neck. The lowest lateral scale rows are enlarged, while the small ventral scales become less distinct towards the rear.
Literature documented · Diagnosis
Species-level database summary; literature review, not expert validation.
The cited account does not establish population-wide variation or the conditions at every Philippine locality.
The species has often been included in H. curtus. The database explicitly warns that its distribution and synonymy have not been fully reconciled with its renewed recognition.
Literature documented · Comment: synonymy
Species-level database summary; literature review, not expert validation.
The cited account does not establish population-wide variation or the conditions at every Philippine locality.
The species account records live-bearing reproduction, using the term ovoviviparous. A verified Philippine litter-size range and reproductive calendar are not established here.
Literature documented · Reproduction field
Reproductive mode reported for this named species.
Mode alone does not establish litter or clutch size, seasonal timing, or captive husbandry requirements.
The account records a marine habitat. Island names on the map identify reported coastal areas; they are not land occupancy or a boundary of the species’ marine range.
Literature documented · Comment: Habitat
Species-level database summary; literature review, not expert validation.
The cited account does not establish population-wide variation or the conditions at every Philippine locality.
The atlas records Hydrophis hardwickii from these named Philippine areas: Luzon, Panay. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.
Literature documented · Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
The original evidence level is retained.
A country listing cannot establish an island or a precise locality.
Across the archipelago
Coastal records: blue outlines
Blue outlines locate coastal records, not land occupancy or marine range boundaries.
Philippine distribution
Select an island to read its distribution record and sources. Uncoloured islands are not evidence of absence.
Persian Gulf (United Arab Emirates, Iran) Indian Ocean (Pakistan ?, Sri Lanka, India) South China Sea north to the coasts of Fujian and Shandong Strait of Taiwan, Singapore, Indoaustralian Archipelago North coast of Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia) Philippines (Panay, Luzon etc.) Pacific Ocean (Myanmar (= Burma), Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, New Guinea) hardwickii: Myanmar, southeast coast of India and the Straits of Malacca, east to Australia and north to China, Philippines, Taiwan (fide LEVITON et al. 2003). Type locality: India
The atlas records Hydrophis hardwickii from these named Philippine areas: Luzon, Panay. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.
The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026 ↗Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
References attached to this species account. Island-specific evidence is shown separately where available.
The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026 ↗
Hydrophis hardwickii — The Reptile Database species account ↗
Living with wildlife
Venomous · Effects not yet summarised in this atlas
Observe from a distance. Do not handle, corner or capture a snake to identify it. An incomplete venom account is not evidence that a species is safe to handle.
After a suspected snakebite, keep the person still and arrange urgent medical care. Avoid tight tourniquets, cutting, suction and unproven remedies. Do not wait to identify the snake before seeking help.
WHO guidance on snakebite first aidSpecies record
Range noteCountry/island text is not a range polygon or locality record.
Persian Gulf (United Arab Emirates, Iran) Indian Ocean (Pakistan ?, Sri Lanka, India) South China Sea north to the coasts of Fujian and Shandong Strait of Taiwan, Singapore, Indoaustralian Archipelago North coast of Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia) Philippines (Panay, Luzon etc.) Pacific Ocean (Myanmar (= Burma), Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, New Guinea) hardwickii: Myanmar, southeast coast of India and the Straits of Malacca, east to Australia and north to China, Philippines, Taiwan (fide LEVITON et al. 2003). Type locality: India
Names through time
Lapemis hardwickii GRAY 1834: 87 Hydrophis hardwickii — GÜNTHER 1864: 380 Hydrophis hardwickei — BOETTGER 1888: 150 (emendation) Lapemis hardwickii — STEJNEGER 1907: 435 Enhydris hardwickii — SMITH 1920: 32 Lapemis hardwickii — MAKI 1931 Lapemis hardwickii — SMITH 1943: 468 Lapemis hardwickii — GRANDISON 1978: 297 Lapemis curtus hardwickii — MACCARTHY in GOLAY et al. 1993 Lapemis hardwickii — COGGER 2000: 720 Labemis [sic] hardwickii – GROSSMANN & TILLACK 2001 Lapemis hardwickii — FERNER et al. 2001 Hydrophis hardwickii — SANDERS et al. 2012 (by implication)
Venomous! Synonymy: Voris and Gritis (1990), KHARIN (2005), and WALLACH et al. 2014: 362 included Lapemis hardwickii Gray, 1834 in the synonymy of L. curtus Shaw, 1802. Synonymy and distribution not yet corrected for resurrection of hardwickii from curtus. Distribution: Not in Pakistan fide KHAN 2002 (pers. comm.). Records from Japan (reported by LEVITON et al. 2003) are doubtful and there are apparently no known voucher specimens (Ibuki Fukuyama, pers. comm., 8 Sep 2023) Type species: Lapemis hardwickii is the type species of the genus Lapemis GRAY in HARDWICKE & GRAY 1834. Habitat: marine.
Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Aguilar, R.; Reyes, F.; Kudera, J.; Hošek, J. (eds.)
Uetz, P.; Hallermann, J. et al. (editors)
Public species fields consulted for bounded biological summaries. Primary sources quoted within the database were not independently examined unless explicitly stated. The catalogue name may differ from the current source title.