Australia and the Pacific Islands 



dark, lower and frunt i)aits edged with ()bli(iue dash of 

 cream color. 



Eyes with round pupil. 



Dorsals in 15 rows at midbody ; ventrals 1-15-160; 

 40-50 single subcaudals. 



Distribution: Tasmania and the southern coastal 

 region of Australia. Mainly an inhabitant of coastal 

 mountain swamps ; found in area from Victoria to New- 

 England ranges and at Mount Gambler and Kangaroo 

 Island, South Australia. 



Remarks: This is one of the best known of the 

 venomous snakes of southern Australia. It is a dan- 

 gerous but rather sluggish and inoffensive snake. It is 

 unlikely to bite unless stepped on or picked up. Few 

 l)ites are reported, but they have been serious. 



"Tiger Snake" antivenin is commonly u.sed for treat- 

 ment of its bite. This is manufacttired by the Common- 

 wealth Serum Laboratories of Australia. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Elapognafhus Boulenger, 1896. 



Little l)rown snake. 



The genus contains a single, little-known .species (E. 

 minor) that grows to a length of about 18 inches. It 

 is found only in the southwestern section of Western 

 Australia and is not considered dangerous. 



Definition: Head small and only sliglitly distinct 

 from neck. Body cylindrical and moderately stout ; tail 

 moderate in length. 



Eyes rather large; pupils round. 



Head scales ; The usual 9 on the crown. Laterally, 

 the long nasal is in contact with the single preocular. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth but finely striated. In 

 15 rows at midbody; fewer (13) posteriorly. Ventrals 

 120-l.'i0 : anal plate entire ; subcaudals single, 52-68. 



Maxillary teeth: Two moderately large fangs; no 

 other teeth on the bone. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Glyphodon GiJnther, 1858. 

 Austral i;in collafed snakes. 



Three species are recognized. One (O. tristis) is 

 found in southeastern New Guinea and some of the 

 nearby islands in addition to the mainland of Australia ; 

 the others are restricted to Australia. One species 

 grows to a length of ,S feet, but all reportedly refuse 

 to bite even when teased, and are not considered dan- 

 gerous. 



Definition: Head small and slightly distinct from 

 neck; no cantlius rostralis. Body cylindrical and mod- 

 erately slender ; tail rather short. 



Eyes small ; pupils round. 



Head scales : The usual 9 on the crown. Laterally, 

 the prefrontal extends down to separate the nasal from 

 the preocular. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth in 1.5-21 rows at mid- 

 body ; species with 15 or 17 rows at midbody show no 

 reduction posteriorly. Ventrals 163-190; anal plate di- 



vided; subcaudals paired (a few anterior ones single in 

 a single specimen), 28-52. 



ilaxillary teetii : Two large fangs followed, after 

 an interspace, by 6-10 small teeth. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Hoplocephalus Wagler, 1830. 

 Australian hroad-lieaded snakes. 



Three species are currently recognized ; all are Aus- 

 tralian. They appear to be the only Australian elapid 

 snakes that are specialized for arboreal life. Only one 

 of the species, H. hungaroidcs. attains a large enough 

 size to be a danger, though pmbably the others also can 

 deliver a painful bite. 



Definition: Head broad and distinct from the slender 

 neck; no canthus rostralis. Body relatively slender; 

 tail moderately long. 



Eyes moderate in size ; pupils round. 



Head scales : The normal 9 on the crown ; frontal 

 rather long. Laterall.v, nasal in contact with preocular. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth, in 21 rows at midbody, 

 fewer posteriorly. Ventrals laterally angulate and 

 notched (a typical indication of a treesnake), 210-227; 

 anal plate entire; subcaudals single, 40-60. 



Maxillary teeth : Two short fangs followed, after an 

 interspace, by 4 snmll teeth. 



Remarks: Three genera of harmless colubrid tree 

 snakes also occur in Australia. All may be distin- 

 guished from Iloploeephahis by a loreal scale, (giving 

 3 s<ales between nostril and eye) and a longer tail 

 (more than HO subcaudals. all paireii). 



Australian Yellow-spotted Snake. Hoplocephalus 

 fjtniffaroidcs (I5oie). 



Itlentifieutinn: The broad liead and eyes with round- 

 pupils ; angulated, keeled, and notched ventral scutes, 

 and moderately long tail distinguish this snake. Adults 

 average 3 to 4 feet in length ; some individuals attain 

 a length of 5 feet. 



Grouud color black or dark brown. Numerous con- 

 spicuous yellow spots form irregular crossbands or a 

 broken network over the body. Tail solid black or 

 almost so. 



Dorsal scales in 21 rows at midbody; 214-221 ventrals; 

 40-00 subcaudals. 



Distribution: Australia: the mountains and coastal 

 regions of southern Queensland and New South Wales. 



Remarks: This snake is active mainly at night. It 

 is often found in trees and on rocky slopes. It is said 

 to be aggressive and will attack with little provocation. 



The reported bites have been inflicted by small (3- 

 foot) individuals. They caused violent headaches with 

 vomiting ; both vision and breathing were affected. In 

 one case the victim hemorrhaged from the gums and had 

 local pain, di.scoloration. and .swelling that persisted for 

 several days. The bite of a large snake might be lethal. 



No specific antivenin is available for this group of 

 snakes, but "Tiger Snake" antivenin (Commonwealth) 

 is recommended for use. 



149 



