Enigmatic declines of Australias sea snakes from a biodiversity hotspot. Survey of seasnakes at Ashmore Reef, Australia (1973 - 2007)

Surveys conducted in eight years between 1973 and 2010 recorded the highest abundances (average 4246 snakes per day) and species richness (nine species) in 1973 and 1994. In 2002 abundance had declined by more than 50% (21 snakes per day) and only five species were recorded. Since 2005 abundances have been consistently low (17 snakes per day), with just two species, Aipysurus laevis and Emydocephalus annulatus, recorded in significant numbers. Despite extensive searches since 2005 (especially in 2010) five species of sea snake historically abundant at Ashmore Reef have not been sighted and are presumed to have become locally extinct. These species include three Timor Sea endemics Aipysurus apraefrontalis, Aipysurus foliosquama, Aipysurus fuscus, and one Australasian endemic Aipysurus duboisii.

1973年至2010年间开展的历时八年的调查显示，1973年与1994年的蛇类种群丰度（日均4246条）与物种丰富度（共9种）均达到峰值。2002年时，种群丰度下降超50%（日均仅21条），仅记录到5个物种。2005年以来，种群丰度持续处于低位（日均17条），仅平颏海蛇（Aipysurus laevis）与环纹海蛇（Emydocephalus annulatus）两个物种种群数量可观。尽管2005年以来开展了大量搜寻工作（尤以2010年为甚），历史上在阿什莫尔礁（Ashmore Reef）种群丰富的5种海蛇仍未被观测到，据推测已在当地局部灭绝。这些物种包括3种帝汶海特有种：短鼻海蛇（Aipysurus apraefrontalis）、叶鳞海蛇（Aipysurus foliosquama）、暗海蛇（Aipysurus fuscus），以及1种澳大拉西亚特有种：杜氏海蛇（Aipysurus duboisii）。