[8] Coastal variants have smaller heads suited for hunting eels in shallow sandy and seagrass habitats.

[9] Oxygen is however also absorbed through their skin, which is shed more regularly than land snakes, to rid them from attached marine organisms.

[14][15] However, recent studies indicate that these "coastal" short-nosed sea snakes may potentially represent a new, undescribed species from the "true" short-nosed sea snakes of Ashmore Reef, meaning that the species may indeed be endemic to the Ashmore and Cartier Islands and potentially extinct.

It is possible that the mesophotic zone could serve as a refugium for sea snakes lost from shallower waters of the reef.

However, it is as of yet unknown if the observed individual was a "true" short-nosed sea snake or a member of the coastal population that recently migrated out to the reef.

[2] Warmer sea temperatures and commercial prawn trawling activities have been highlighted as factors which may negatively impact their numbers.

[16] Oil spills, water contamination, dredging activities and disturbance or harm caused by increased boat traffic may be additional factors.