Australia and the Pacific Islands 



Groiiml color viiiies fnim yellowish, greenish-gray, 

 orange, and brown to black. The most common jiattern 

 is a creamy-yellow groiuul color banded with gray. 

 Most individuals show a large number of narrow dark 

 bands but those with dark ground colors may be almost 

 unicolor. 



Dorsal scales with pointed tips. 



Distribution: Tasmania and southern Australia from 

 the border of Queensland to the coastal areas of South 

 Australia. This species inhabits wet areas with rocks 

 and lirush. 



/{(marks: The tiger snake is the most dangerous 

 snake of southern Australia. It is active at night and 

 not aggressive until molested. The greatest danger 

 appears to be from stepping on the snake in the dark. 

 Often there are few local effects from the bite, but the 

 ■sy.steniic effects are swift and grave. 



A specific antivenin (Tiger Snake) is produced by the 

 Conunonwealth Serum I>aboratories of Australia. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Ogmodon Peters, 1865. 

 Fiji snake. 



A single species, 0. vitianiis Peters, is known from 

 Viti Levu and perhaps from other islands of the Fiji 

 grou]). It is a small burrowing snake; reported lengths 

 are under 20 inches. It is not believed to be a dangerous 

 specie.^. 



Dvfuiitiiin: Head small and not distinct from neck; 

 no canthus rostralis; snout pointed. Body cylindrical 

 and moderately slender ; tail short. 



Eyes small ; pupils round. 



Head scales ; The usual 9 on the crown ; internasals 

 very small, prefrontals very large and in contact with 

 eye. Laterally, nasal fused to first upper labial ; small 



Figure IO.j. — Head Scales of Fiji Snake. Ogmodon viti- 

 aniis. The top of the third upper labial is often 

 seiiarated as a preocular. Drawing by Samuel B. 

 McDowell. 



preocular elongate, not in contact with nasal, commonly 

 fused with third upper labial. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth, in 17 rows throughout 

 body. Ventrals 139-1.j2 ; anal plate divided; subcaudals 

 paired, 27-38. 



Maxillary teeth : Two small fangs with external 

 grooves followed, without an interspace, by 5-6 grooved 

 teeth that gradually decrease in length toward the rear. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Oxyuranus Kinghorn, 1923. 



1 



aipaii. 



A single si>e<-ies, O. scntrllatiix. is ro<-ognized : it is 

 found in northern Australia and southeastern Xew 

 Guinea. The taipan reportedly reaches a length of 11 

 feet. With its long fangs and large supply of very toxic 

 venom, it is considered to be one of the most dangerous 

 snakes living today. 



Definition: Head elongate and narrow but distinct 







FiGiRF. lOG. — Taipan. Oj-yuranus scutcUatus. The great 

 size and toxic venom make this snake, iiotentially. one 

 of the most dangerous snakes in the world. Photo 

 by Eric 'Worrell. 



from neck; a distinct canthus rostralis. Body elongate 

 ami cylindrical ; a moderately long tapering tail. 



Eyes large ; pujiils round. 



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

 na.sal in contact with preocular. 



Body scales: Dorsals with low but distinct keels, 

 in 21-23 rows at midbody, reduced to 17 posteriorly. 

 Ventrals 230-247; anal plate entire; subcaudals 50-72, 

 all paired. 



Maxillary teeth : Two long recurved fangs followed, 

 after an interspace, by 2-3 small teeth. 



Taipan, Oxyuramix ficitfeUatuft (Peters). 



Iilintification: Adult taipans average C to 7 feet in 

 length : a record specimen was 11 feet long. 



Body color is co|)i)ery or dark brown in Australian 

 specimens, grayish-black with a reddish-orange stripe 

 along the rear part of the body in Xew Guinea types. 



151 



