Sea snake thought to be extinct 'rediscovered' in Western Australia

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/22/sea-snake-thought-to-be-extinct-rediscovered-in-western-australia

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A species of sea snake thought to be extinct has been rediscovered off the Western Australian coast.

A wildlife officer spotted two courting short-nosed sea snakes while patrolling in Ningaloo marine park on the state’s mid-north coast. Sightings of the species of snake were last recorded at Ashmore reef in the Timor Sea in 1998.

Related: Ningaloo: Australia's other Great Barrier Reef worth saving | James Woodford

The Western Australian environment minister, Albert Jacob, said the discovery was especially important because they had never been seen at Ningaloo reef.“This stunning marine park is a haven for a diverse range of species and we are constantly gaining more information about it,” he said.

A Department of Parks and Wildlife officer photographed the snakes on Ningaloo Reef and James Cook university scientists identified them.