Poiionous Snaket of ihe World 



ElAPIDAE; Genus Micropechis Boulenger, 1896. 

 I'lU'irK' I'onil snakes. 



Two s|)t'>li's iiri' ciirrcnlly rt"ciiKnl/.o(l. Ono of tlie.so 

 occurs on Now (iiiiiioa iiiul some of Its offshore islands; 

 tho otluT, Mivroi>cchis ctapoiilcx ( Hoiili'iiKt'r), willi a 

 distinct blinded pattern, is found on Floridii, Giuuia- 

 canal. .Maiaita and Ysaliel Islands in tlio Solomons. 

 There are few reports of hites from either of these 

 species. However, they attain lengths of ,"> feet and arc 

 considered dangerous. 



Diftiiiliiin: Head fairly distinct front necl< ; snout 

 pointed. Hody moderately stout, ( ylindrical ; tail short. 



Eyes very small ; pupils round. 



Head scales : The usual 9 on the crown ; rostral 

 broad and obtusely jiointcd. Laterally, nasal in con- 

 tact with preocular. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth in 15-17 rows through- 

 out body. Ventrals 17.S-223 ; anal plate entire or di- 

 vided; subcaudals generally paired (a few occasionally 

 entire) 35-55. 



Maxillary teeth : Two moderately large fangs fol- 

 lowed, after an interspace, by 3 small teeth. 



Ikaheka Snake. Micropechis ikaheJca f Lesson). 



Identification: Adults average between 3 and 4 feet 

 in length ; occasional individuals attain lengths of 5 

 feet. 



Body coloration made up of yellow (or tan) and black 

 (or brown) scales. Black scales roughly arranged in 

 irregular crossbands but each is edged with yellow — 

 sometimes to the extent that the pattern is lost. In 

 specimens from eastern New Guinea the pattern may 

 be lost on the anterior one-third of the body which Is 

 brown, but the crossbands persist posteriorly. Belly 

 color yellow with some scutes edged with black. 



Dorsals smooth and glossy, in 15 rows at midbody. 

 Ventrals 178-223 ; 37-55 subcaudals. 



Distribution: New Guinea and nearby islands; Aru, 

 Batanta, Mefoor, Mios Num, Misool, Jobi, Mansinam, 

 and Valise. 



Retnarks: This appears to be the only kind of small- 

 eyed burrowing .snake in the Australian-New Guinea re- 

 gion that grows to a size large enough to be a possible 

 hazard. Little seems to be known of its habits ; it is 

 apparently a nocturnal or a burrowing species that is 

 seldom seen out during the day. However, at least one 

 death has been reported from its bite. "Tiger Snake" 

 antlvenin (Commonwealth Serum Laboratories of Au- 

 tralia) has been recommended (E. Worrell) for treat- 

 ment of envenomation from this snake. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Notechis Boulenger, 1896. 

 Australian tiger snake. 



A single species. X. srntatiis. is currently recognized; 

 it has several geograjihic races and is found in southern 

 Australia and some of the fiffshore islands. It possesses 

 one of the most toxic venoms known in snakes. 



Definition: Head relatively broad, flattened, and 



moderately dlstliut from the neck; a distinct canlhus 

 loslralls. Itody relatively sloiil, llnlleMi'd dorsoven- 

 I rally ; tail rather short. 



FioriiK 1(«. — A Ulack Tiger Snake. Xotcrliix. Although 

 only one species of tiger snalce is recognized by most 

 workers. Eric Worrell believes these black forms to 

 be a distinct species (Xotcchis aler). Photo by Eric 

 Worrell. 



Eyes moderate in size ; pupils round. 



Head scales : The usual on the crown ; frontal 

 wide and shield-shaped. Laterally, nasal in contact 

 with preocular. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth in 17-20 oblique rows 

 at midbody; fewer posteriorly. Ventrals ir>0-l,'<4; anal 

 plate entire; subcaudals single, 43-!39. 



Maxillary teeth: Two rather long fangs followed, 

 after an interspace, by 3-5 small teeth. 



Australian Tiger Snake, Notechis scutatus (Pet- 

 ers). 



Idcntifirution: Adult snakes are 4 to 5 feet long in 

 most parts of the range, but they may exceed 6 feet in 

 Victoria and Tasmania. A record length of 8 feet was 

 reported for a specimen from Chappell Island. 







Figure 104. — Australian Tiger Snake, Notechis scutatus. 

 The most dangerous snake of southern Australia. 

 Photo by Isabelle Hunt Conant. (See also fig. 103) 



150 



