AlPYSURUS. 195 



215. Thalassophis annandalii. 



Distira annandalii, Laidlaw, P. Z. S. 1901, ii, p. 579, pi. xxxv, 



Tlialnssophis annandalii, Bouleng. Fascic. Malay., Zool. i, p. 16 

 (1903). 



Head moderate ; body short and stout, strongly compressed 

 behind the neck. Rostral broader than deep ; nasals small, 

 separated by a pair of large internasals, which widen in front ; 

 upper head-shields more or less broken up, the parietals small and 

 separated from each other, and sometimes also from the frontal, 

 by very small scales ; frontal and supraocular large ; one or two 

 prae- and one or two postoculars ; eye separated from the labials 

 by one or two suboculars ; temporal scales small, numerous ; 9 to 

 12 upper labials ; chin-shields usually broken up into scales. 

 Scales extremely small, 90 to 100 round the middle of the body, 

 juxtaposed ; dorsals with a more or less distinct central tubercle 

 or short keel. Ventrals very feebly enlarged, 310-370. Pale 

 greyish olive above, white beneath ; back with dark cross-bars, 

 narrower than the interspaces, tapering to a point on the sides. 



Total length 600 millim. ; tail 80. 



The type specimen of this very remarkable snake was obtained 

 at Patani by the Skeat Expedition. Further specimens have 

 since been found in the same locality by Messrs. Annandale and 

 Kobinson. 



The water in which the type specimen was taken is stated by 

 Dr. Annandale to have been fresh to the taste. 



Genus AlPYSURUS. 

 Lacep. Ann. Mus, Paris, iv, p. 197 (1804). 



Maxillary a little longer than the ectopterygoid, extending for- 

 wards beyond the palatine ; poison-fangs moderate, followed 

 by 8 to 10 small teeth. Snout short ; nostrils superior ; head- 

 shields large or broken up into scales ; nasals in contact with each 

 other. Body moderate ; scales imbricate ; ventrals large, keeled 

 in the middle. 



Malay Seas and Western Tropical Pacific Ocean. 



A single species has been found on the coasts of the Malay 

 Peninsula. 



216. Aipysurus eydouxii. 



Toniof/aster eydoiixii, Gray, Cat. Sn. p. 59 (1849). 



Aipysiirus anguilliformis, Giinth. Rept. Brit. lud. p. 357 (1864) ; 



Boettg. Zool. Anz. 1892, p. 420. 

 Aipysurus eyduuxii, Boulenii-. Cat. Sn.iii, p. 304 (1896) ; S, Flower, 



P', Z. S. 1890, p. 893, andl899, p. 688. 



Eostral a little broader than deep ; upper head-shields regular : 

 frontal large, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, 



o2 



