Central and Soufhern Africa 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. A. Crown of head coverecl witli small irregular scales; 



pupil of eye vertically elliptical 15 



B. Crown of head with nine large regular plates; pupil of 



eye various shajies 2 



2. A. Loreal scale absent ; preoculars in contact with nasal or 



separated by downward extension of prefrontal 6 



R. Loreal scale (s) present, separating preoculars from 



nasal 3 



3. A. Pupil of eye horizontally elliptical Theloforni-s 



B. Pupil of eye round 4 



4. A. Eye separated from supralabials ijy row of subocular 



scales Caitsus 



B. Eye in contact with su])ralabials 5 



5. A. Dorsals distinctly keeled, in 17-21 rows at midbody Dispholidiis 



B. Dorsals smooth, in 13-15 rows at midbody Pseudohaje 



R. A. Preoculars (3) widely separated from nasal; prefrontals 



expanded laterally to touch labials Dendroaspis 



B. Preoculars (1 or 2) in contact with nasal 7 



7. A. Rostral very large, concave below, separated from other 



scales on sides AspideJaps 



B. Rostral not concave below, not separated from other 



scales 8 



8. A. Dorsals distinctly keeled Tlejnnchatus 



B. Dorsals perfectly smooth 9 



9. A. Eye very small; frontal more tliaii twice as broad as 



supraoculars Atractasph 



B. Eye small to very large: frontal not twice as broad as 



supraoculars 10 



10. A. Tail moderate to long; more than 41 subcaudals 13 



B. Tail short; fewer tlian 42 subcaudals 11 



11. A. Rostral enlarged, obtuselj- pointed; dorsals in 13 rows 



at midbody Elapaoidea 



11 Rostral normal, rounded; doi-sals 15-17 rows at midbody 12 



12. .\. .Viial plate divided; dorsals 15 throughout Flaps 



B. Anal jjlate entire; dorsals 15-17 at midbody, more on 



neck, fewer posteriorly Paranaja 



13. A. Eye very large; dorsals 13-15 rows a( midbody Pseudohaje 



B. Eye small to moderate; dorsals 17 or more at midbod\- 14 



14. A. Dorsal pattern of 3-24 di.stinct dark crossbars on lighter 



ground color; 3^ small teeth on maxillary bone Boulengerina 



B. No such pattern; 0-2 (rarely 3) snuxli teeth on maxillary 



bone Naja 



15. A. Lateral scales with serrate keels 18 



B. Lateral scales not serrately keeled 10 



16. A. Subcaudals i)aired 1!) 



B. Subcaudals single 17 



17. A. Fewer tJian 30 subcaudals; fewer than 130 ventrals Adenorhinos 



B. More than 30 subcaudals; more than 130 ventrals Athens 



89 



