After the echinoderm site Morgan and I left the group as they were going to drive back along the highway. We worked our way back along the beach, found the quiet camping spot and had a great sleep. Next morning a peaceful time by the beach and a nice long walk. Always something different to see. Again a snake! I would love to find out which snake we saw this time by the water! Some water snakes are very poisonous. I searched the internet but did not find it. Here's the picture. Is there anyone in the QNHG who knows about snakes?
We think this is a Hydrophis Lapemoides
We found this article including 2 other snakes :
Sea Snakes in the Waters of the United Arab Emirates
by J.N.B.Brown
In March 1986 1 found two sea-snakes alive but stranded on the beach about 3 km west of Jebel Ali Hotel (24�58'N, 55�02'E). After taking photographs I returned both specimens to their natural habitat in the sea, as they are virtually immobile on land. The larger one swam off at the second attempt, but the smaller one was unable to combat the incoming waves and was continually returned to the beach. It was obvious that it would not have survived, so though I was loath to kill it, I preserved it to obtain a positive identification.
The larger sea snake was identified as a Reef Sea-snake (Hydrophis ornatus) and the smaller one as an Arabian Gulf Sea-snake (H. lapemoides). There are about 50 recorded species of sea snake in the world and most occur, and probably evolved, in the warm South Asian and Australian coastal waters. Possibly nine species have so far spread to the shores of the UAE, in both the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. The only other sea snake I have identified is the Yellow-bellied Sea-snake (Pelamis platurus), several specimens having been found on beaches around Abu Dhabi.
Most sea snakes remain in shallow waters, except P. platurus that is known to move across oceans and deep water. They never come ashore voluntarily because their oval-shaped bodies cause them to flop over onto their sides when out of water. They have lost the broad ventral scales on the underside that help snakes move on land. The tail is vertically compressed to help with movement through the water.
Sea snakes can stay under water for periods up to two hours before rising to the surface for air. The left lung has virtually disappeared, leaving a very long right lung, which also incorporates an air sac to store air and aid buoyancy. Small valves close off the nostrils to prevent the ingress of seawater. There are no openings for eardrums and the eyes have a spectacle eye covering. The young are born live in the water and must rise to the surface quickly to breathe air.
The venom of all sea snakes is extremely toxic to humans, so they should all be considered dangerous. Poison is generally injected through hollow fangs situated on each side at the front of the mouth. Back-up fangs usually grow behind the main ones to replace them if they are broken or lost. This replacement takes place throughout the life of the snake. The venom is of the neurotoxic type and is said to be nearest to cobra venom.
Food probably consists entirely of fish caught in crevices and holes. In some sea snake species the head is small and the neck elongated to facilitate access into even the smallest crevice. Although the mouth looks small and it is frequently stated that it is too small to bite a human, the gape is quite wide. Fortunately, they are not aggressive, except during the mating season.
Sea snakes are cold-blooded animals and can often be seen basking on the surface to get warm. P. platurus is reported to lie on the surface pretending to be a piece of wood, which attracts fish that subsequently become food. They shed their skin every three or four weeks, more frequently than land snakes. This aids the removal of barnacles and other invertebrates from the skin.
Hydrophis ornatus (Reef Sea-snake)
The snake found at Jebel Ali was generally olive in colour with 50 dark gray to black blotches to the tip of the tail. These blotches (not full rings) spread over the back to almost halfway down each side of the body. The face and head are yellowish with large dark scales at the top. The eye pupil was black and round. The nostrils were prominent with a shutter.
The body was oval shaped and covered with small scales. Though lethargic, it was able to move the first 15 cm of the body through almost 180' on each side. Maximum length is reported as 125 cm.
The Jebel Ali specimen measured 82.5 cm total length of which the tail was 13.7 cm. The body was 4.0 cm deep at greatest depth.
Hydrophis lapemoides (Arabian Gulf Sea-snake)
The specimen caught at Jebel Ali was not fully-grown, being only 42.0 cm long and 1.5 cm deep. The head was black with a whitish V shape around it, the point towards the snout. Large scales covered the head and the body was covered with rows of smaller ones. There were 49 black bands right around the body to the end of the tail, interspersed with white bands.
The snake was aggressive when moved, opening its mouth and hissing loudly. It was able to move the forward part of its body from side to side a little.
There were 11 small barnacles on the skin that could only be removed at the next slough.
The adult snake is described as yellowish to olive background with dark olive to black cross bands. The head is olive coloured. Maximum length is 96 cm.
Pelamis platurus (Yellow-bellied Sea snake)
Generally black or dark brown on top and yellowish on the sides and under the belly. The dark color is mainly complete on the front third, but may break up into dark crossbars over the hind two thirds. The tail is short and flat with mottled black and yellowish markings.
This is a small, possibly juvenile, sea snake. Probably Hydrophis cyanocintus or may be H. lapemoides but ID not 100%. Hydrophis ornatus less likely, since banding doesnt tapper as one would expect. Either way very harmful if biitten and toxin injected. Likeyhood of being bitten very low and chance of being injected dependant on snake last feeding time and if fangs are lowered. Hopefully we will get a grant to study them inshallah
I wonder if you could possibly help me out with the identification of the plant in the attached photos? If you don't know what it is perhaps you could forward the email to someone who might know? I have never seen anything like it before (certainly not in Somerset!) but it is so impressive I would like to know more about it. It only started growing the flower stem in November and it is now 10 - 11 ft tall and flowering beautifully.
I have a question. Qatar maps - are you aware
of where I can purchase a decent scale map (preferably topographic
rather than just a driving map) of the country? I thought I saw someone
on Friday with a map with more detail than the standard Explore-Qatar
satellite-photo based map but didn't get a chance to ask them about it.
I have a copy of the old Russian topographic maps that date from the
1970's but wondered if there was anything better?
I haven't been there for years, but I once went to a Government Department where they have the whole country in digital format with multiple layers of details. Maybe it's changed now (or maybe doesn't even exist anymore), but we just sat with the guy, defined the region we wanted, the scale, the layers, and then we had the option of burning a CD/DVD, or printing the map on paper or on a poster. They had it all and it was quite cheap, and a very good alternative to the very few Qatar / Doha maps.
The location of this government place is walking distance from crazy signal on B-Ring. From Qtel signal, drive East on B-Ring Road, go straight trough Mumtazah St., then turn right on the last street before Crazy Signal (Al Matar Road), just before a petrol station, so you enter into a road that goes towards Najma area. The building you look for is immediately on the right, pretty much on the corner with B-Ring. Of course if you come from Crazy Signal, it would be the very first street on your left, but I think you are not allowed to do that turn. It's difficult giving directions in Doha, but I hope this helps and that you find what you are looking for.
Cheers,
Jaime
Sea Snake Identification
Hydrophis lapemoides
We think this is a Hydrophis Lapemoides
We found this article including 2 other snakes :
Sea Snakes in the Waters of the United Arab Emirates
by J.N.B.Brown
In March 1986 1 found two sea-snakes alive but stranded on the beach about 3 km west of Jebel Ali Hotel (24�58'N, 55�02'E). After taking photographs I returned both specimens to their natural habitat in the sea, as they are virtually immobile on land. The larger one swam off at the second attempt, but the smaller one was unable to combat the incoming waves and was continually returned to the beach. It was obvious that it would not have survived, so though I was loath to kill it, I preserved it to obtain a positive identification.
The larger sea snake was identified as a Reef Sea-snake (Hydrophis ornatus) and the smaller one as an Arabian Gulf Sea-snake (H. lapemoides). There are about 50 recorded species of sea snake in the world and most occur, and probably evolved, in the warm South Asian and Australian coastal waters. Possibly nine species have so far spread to the shores of the UAE, in both the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. The only other sea snake I have identified is the Yellow-bellied Sea-snake (Pelamis platurus), several specimens having been found on beaches around Abu Dhabi.
Most sea snakes remain in shallow waters, except P. platurus that is known to move across oceans and deep water. They never come ashore voluntarily because their oval-shaped bodies cause them to flop over onto their sides when out of water. They have lost the broad ventral scales on the underside that help snakes move on land. The tail is vertically compressed to help with movement through the water.
Sea snakes can stay under water for periods up to two hours before rising to the surface for air. The left lung has virtually disappeared, leaving a very long right lung, which also incorporates an air sac to store air and aid buoyancy. Small valves close off the nostrils to prevent the ingress of seawater. There are no openings for eardrums and the eyes have a spectacle eye covering. The young are born live in the water and must rise to the surface quickly to breathe air.
The venom of all sea snakes is extremely toxic to humans, so they should all be considered dangerous. Poison is generally injected through hollow fangs situated on each side at the front of the mouth. Back-up fangs usually grow behind the main ones to replace them if they are broken or lost. This replacement takes place throughout the life of the snake. The venom is of the neurotoxic type and is said to be nearest to cobra venom.
Food probably consists entirely of fish caught in crevices and holes. In some sea snake species the head is small and the neck elongated to facilitate access into even the smallest crevice. Although the mouth looks small and it is frequently stated that it is too small to bite a human, the gape is quite wide. Fortunately, they are not aggressive, except during the mating season.
Sea snakes are cold-blooded animals and can often be seen basking on the surface to get warm. P. platurus is reported to lie on the surface pretending to be a piece of wood, which attracts fish that subsequently become food. They shed their skin every three or four weeks, more frequently than land snakes. This aids the removal of barnacles and other invertebrates from the skin.
Hydrophis ornatus (Reef Sea-snake)
The snake found at Jebel Ali was generally olive in colour with 50 dark gray to black blotches to the tip of the tail. These blotches (not full rings) spread over the back to almost halfway down each side of the body. The face and head are yellowish with large dark scales at the top. The eye pupil was black and round. The nostrils were prominent with a shutter.
The body was oval shaped and covered with small scales. Though lethargic, it was able to move the first 15 cm of the body through almost 180' on each side. Maximum length is reported as 125 cm.
The Jebel Ali specimen measured 82.5 cm total length of which the tail was 13.7 cm. The body was 4.0 cm deep at greatest depth.
Hydrophis lapemoides (Arabian Gulf Sea-snake)
The specimen caught at Jebel Ali was not fully-grown, being only 42.0 cm long and 1.5 cm deep. The head was black with a whitish V shape around it, the point towards the snout. Large scales covered the head and the body was covered with rows of smaller ones. There were 49 black bands right around the body to the end of the tail, interspersed with white bands.
The snake was aggressive when moved, opening its mouth and hissing loudly. It was able to move the forward part of its body from side to side a little.
There were 11 small barnacles on the skin that could only be removed at the next slough.
The adult snake is described as yellowish to olive background with dark olive to black cross bands. The head is olive coloured. Maximum length is 96 cm.
Pelamis platurus (Yellow-bellied Sea snake)
Generally black or dark brown on top and yellowish on the sides and under the belly. The dark color is mainly complete on the front third, but may break up into dark crossbars over the hind two thirds. The tail is short and flat with mottled black and yellowish markings.
Maximum length up to 110 cm.
Sea snake
This is a small, possibly juvenile, sea snake. Probably Hydrophis cyanocintus or may be H. lapemoides but ID not 100%. Hydrophis ornatus less likely, since banding doesnt tapper as one would expect. Either way very harmful if biitten and toxin injected. Likeyhood of being bitten very low and chance of being injected dependant on snake last feeding time and if fangs are lowered. Hopefully we will get a grant to study them inshallah
Iain Macdonald - Marine Scientist.
I wonder if you could
Qatar Maps
of where I can purchase a decent scale map (preferably topographic
rather than just a driving map) of the country? I thought I saw someone
on Friday with a map with more detail than the standard Explore-Qatar
satellite-photo based map but didn't get a chance to ask them about it.
I have a copy of the old Russian topographic maps that date from the
1970's but wondered if there was anything better?
Qatar Maps
I haven't been there for years, but I once went to a Government Department where they have the whole country in digital format with multiple layers of details. Maybe it's changed now (or maybe doesn't even exist anymore), but we just sat with the guy, defined the region we wanted, the scale, the layers, and then we had the option of burning a CD/DVD, or printing the map on paper or on a poster. They had it all and it was quite cheap, and a very good alternative to the very few Qatar / Doha maps.
The location of this government place is walking distance from crazy signal on B-Ring. From Qtel signal, drive East on B-Ring Road, go straight trough Mumtazah St., then turn right on the last street before Crazy Signal (Al Matar Road), just before a petrol station, so you enter into a road that goes towards Najma area. The building you look for is immediately on the right, pretty much on the corner with B-Ring. Of course if you come from Crazy Signal, it would be the very first street on your left, but I think you are not allowed to do that turn. It's difficult giving directions in Doha, but I hope this helps and that you find what you are looking for.
Cheers,
Jaime