The Near and Middle Easf 



INTRODUCTION 



Like north Africa this is a predominantly arid 

 region, althougli it does not contain quite so much 

 sterile desert. This trend toward a drier climate 

 is quite i-ecent, marked changes having occurred 

 within liistoric times. Overgrazing, deforesta- 

 tion, and other forms of human misuse have 

 contributed to the trend. The snake fauna con- 

 tains species in common with northern Africa, 

 Europe, and central Asia; toward the east there 

 is infiltration of species characteristic of tropical 

 Asia. 



In the Middle East also, the vipers cause most 

 of the snakebites. Cobras and otiier elapids 

 occur, but are rare or restricted in range, and in- 

 flict few bites. Several species of sea snakes are 

 encountered in the Persian Gulf. 



GENERIC AND SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Naja Laurenti, 1768. 

 Cobras. 



Six species are recognized ; all are African excei)t the 

 Asiatic cobra. Xajd iiajti. and ran^e tliroiisiliont the Afri- 

 can continent except for the drifting sand areas of the 

 Sahara region. They are snakes of moderate (4 feet) 

 to large (8 feet) size, with large fangs and toxic 

 venom. The N. nigricollis species "spits" its venom 

 at the eyes of an aggressor ; it is found in the southern 

 part of the region of north Africa. The Egyptian cobra 

 {Xuja liajc) and the western snlispecies of the Asiatic 

 cobra (Naja naja oxiana) arc found in the Near and 

 Middle East region (.see p. 80 and p. 124). 



Dcfliiitiou: Head rather broad, flattened, only slightly 

 distinct from neck ; snout rounded, a distinct canthus. 

 Bod.v moderately slender, slightly depressed, tapered ; 

 neck capable of expansion into hood ; tail of moderate 

 length. 



Eyes moderate in size ; pupils round. 



Head scales: The usual 9 on the crown; frontal 

 short; rostral rounded. Laterally, nasal in contact with 

 the one or two preoculars. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth, in 17-25 oblique rows 

 at midbody, u.sually more on the neck, fewer posteriorly. 

 Ventrals 159-232 ; anal plate entire ; subcaudals 42-88, 

 mostly paired. 



Maxillary teeth ; Two rather large tubular fangs 

 with external grooves followed, after an interspace, by 

 0-3 small teeth. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Walferinnesia Lataste, 1887. 

 Desert black snake. 



A single species. W. aegyptia, is known from the desert 

 regions of Egypt to Iran. It is relatively large, 3 to 4 

 feet, and is probably a dangerous species (see p, 81 and 

 fig. .jO). 



Definition: Head relatively broad, flattened, distinct 

 from neck ; snout broad, a distinct canthus. Body cylin- 

 drical and tapered, moderately slender ; tail short. 



Eyes moderate in size ; pupils round. 



Head scales : The usual 9 on the crown ; rostral 

 broad. Laterally, nasal in contact with single elongate 

 preocular. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth at midbody, feebly 

 keeled posteriorly, in 23 rows at midbody, more (27) 

 anteriorly. Ventrals 189-197 ; anal plate divided ; sub- 

 caudals 4.")— tS. first 2-8 single, remainder paired. 



Maxillary teeth; Two large tubular fangs with ex- 

 ternal grooves followed, after an interspace, by 0-2 small 

 leeth. 





"->•- 



Map 8. — Section 7, Near and Middle East. 



VIPERIDAE: Genus Afractaspis Smith, 1849. 

 Mole vipers. 



Sixteen species are currently recognized. All are 

 African except for A. engaddensis Haas (which ranges 

 from Egypt to Israel) and A. microlcpidota (which 

 is found in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula 

 as well as through much of north and central Africa). 

 All are small snakes, less than 3 feet in length. How- 

 ever, they have large fangs (which look enormous in the 



107 



