The Sea Snakes (family Hydrophiidae) are primarily Indonesian but one species (Pelamis platurus) is widespread. Although there is no fossil record for these animals, their center of origin can be reasonably assigned to the Australia - New Guinea region. Traceable Restricted by water temperature > 20 oC Cenozoic origin (no fossils) Distributions overlap with nearest relatives (Elapidae: cobras, mambas) Intermediate forms show speciation pattern Australian-New Guinea origin Highest diversity (30 sp.) Location of closest relatives in New Guinea Most primitive genus in New Guinea Cogger, H.G. 1975. Sea snakes of Australia and New Guinea. pp. 59-139. in. W.A. Dunson (ed.) The Biology of Sea Snakes. Univ. Park Press, Baltimore. Heatwole, H. 1987. Sea Snakes. N.S.W. University Press, KEnsington.