Emydocephalus

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Emydocephalus is a genus of sea snakes known as turtle-headed sea snakes. They belong to the Elapidae family and are one of the few live-bearing sea snakes. Unlike most sea snakes, Emydocephalus species are non-venomous and lack venom, making them unique among elapids. They also lack teeth on the dentary and palatine bones; these bones carry only a row of papillae. They do have fangs and many small teeth on the pterygoid bones. This reduced dentition fits their diet, which is mostly fish eggs. Because their prey is small and immobile, they forage more often but eat smaller amounts. The name Emydocephalus comes from Greek words meaning "turtle" and "head." These snakes are found in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. There are three recognized species in the genus.