Australia and the Pacific Islands 



KEY TO GENERA (continued) 



12. A. Eye small ; its length considerably less than its dis- 



tance from lip 18 



B. Eye moderate to large, its length about equal to or 



more than distance to lip 13 



13. A. First row of dorsals conspicuously broader than 



adjacent row ; dorsal count 17 posteriorly, 17 or 



19 at midbody Psevdechis 



B. First row not conspicuously broader; if dorsal 



count 17 posteriorly, more than 19 at midbody 14 



14. A. At least some of subcaudals paired 17 



B. All of subcaudals single 15 



15. A. Body very short (fewer than 150 ventrals) and 



rather stout Elapognathus 



B. Body moderately long (more than 150 ventrals) 



and rather slender 16 



16. A. Frontal long, 1.5 to 2 times longer than broad; 



dorsals not oblique Denisonia 



B. Frontal short, almost as wide as long; dorsals dis- 

 tinctly oblique Notechis 



17. A. More than 227 ventrals Oxyuranus 



B. Fewer than 228 ventrals Demansia 



18. A. Body moderate to slender (fewer than 227 ventrals) 21 



B. Body exceedingly long and slender (more than 226 



ventrals) 19 



19. A. A preocular present; 2 to 3 small teeth following 



fangs after an interspace (Australia) Vermicella 



B. Xo preocular; 4 to 5 teeth of decreasing size follow- 

 ing fang without an interspace (New Guinea) 20 



20. A. A long terminal spine which is keeled above; inter- 



nasals distinct Toxicocalamus 



B. Terminal spine obtuse, not keeled ; internasals fused 



with prefrontals Vltrocalamus 



21. A. Nasal in contact with preocular 24 



B. Nasal separated from preocular (if present) by 



prefrontal 22 



22. A. Fewer than 156 ventrals (Fiji) Ogmodon 



B. More than 155 ventrals (Australia, Solomons) 23 



23. A. Nasal barely touches 2nd labial GJyphodon 



B. Nasal extends well over 2nd labial Parapistocalamus 



24. A. Rostral broad and free at sides; subcaudals single__ Rhinoplocephalus 

 B. Rostral not free at sides; subcaudals paired 25 



25. A. Tail very short, fewer than 31 subcaudals (Aus- 



tralia) 26 



B. Tail longer, more than 30 subcaudals (New Guinea 



and the Solomon Islands) Micropechis 



26. A. Rostral large and shovel-shaped, with a sharp edge Brachyuroph'is 



B. Rostral without a sharp edge 27 



27. A. Nasal in contact Avith first three upper labials Rhynchoelaps 



B. Nasal in contact with first two labials only Vermicella 



145 



