140 



VENOMS 



Pig. 84. — Platurus laticaudatus (syn. P. fisckeri). 

 (After Sir Joseph Fayrer.) 



(9) Aipysurus. 



Maxillanes a little longer 

 than the ectopterygoids ; 

 poison-fangs moderate, fol- 

 lowed, after a short interval, 

 by 8 — 10 grooved teeth ; 

 anterior mandibular teeth 

 feebly grooved. Snout 



short ; head shields large, 

 or broken up into scales. 

 Body moderate ; scales im- 

 bricate ; ventrals large, 

 keeled in the middle. 



A. australis. — Brown, or 

 cream-colour, with brown 

 spots forming more or less 

 distinct cross-bars. 



Total length, 930 milli- 

 metres ; tail 110. 



Habitat : Coasts of New 

 Guinea and Australia. 



Other species of Aipy- 

 surus {A. eydouxii, annu- 

 latiis, and IcBms) are found 

 on the coasts of Singapore, 

 Java, Celebes, and the 

 Philippine and Loyalty 

 Islands. 



(10) Platurus. 



(Figs. 83, 84.) 



Two large poison-fangs, and only one or two small solid teeth 

 near the posterior extremity of the maxillary. Head shields large ; 



