GLOSSARY 



Anal plate: The large scute covering the vent. 

 It mai-ks the division between body and tail. 

 It may be entire, or divided by an olDlique 

 suture (fig. 10). 



Anaphylaxis: A severe hypersensitivity reaction 

 which may cause circulatory, respiratory and 

 neurologiral symptoms. Often fatal if un- 

 treated. 



Antivenin: An antitoxic serum whir-li neutral- 

 izes a venom. 



Antivenom: Autivenin. 



Apical pits: Tiny depressions, usually paired, 

 near tlie terminal end of each dorsal scale 

 wlien present; function unknown. 



Aqiuitic: Livintr in water, (rompaie terres- 

 trial.) 



Arboreal : I>iving in trees or bushes. (Compare 

 terrestrial.) 



Autopharmacological substances: Chemicals ])ro- 

 duced and released by body cells in response 

 to a stimulus, such as venom. These sul)- 

 stances may produce deleleiious efl'ects, such 

 as shortness of breath, changes in heart rate 

 and shock. 



Canaliculated: Traversed by a small tubular 

 l)assage or channel. Here applied to the 

 fangs of snakes. 



Canthus (or canthus rostralis) : Tlie angle be- 

 tween the flat crown of the head and the side, 

 between snout and eye; may be sharp, obtuse, 

 ohsoh'/c. or (ihsent. 



Canthal scales: Enlarged scales along the lateral 

 border of the crown between internasals and 

 supraocidars in some vipers and pit vipers 

 (fig. 12). 



Chin shields (Genials) : Paired enlarged scales 

 near the ventral midline of the lower jaw; 

 anterior chin shields in contact with mental 

 or separated from it by first infralabials; a 

 pair of 'posterior chin shields may be present 

 behind the anterior (fig. 6). 



Compressed: (In reference to body shape.) 



Flattened from side to side, giving a greater 

 height than breadth. 



Constriction Band : A wide piece of rubber or 

 other material u.sed to depress flow along 

 sui)erficial lyniphatic and venous channels. 



Crotalid(s): Refers to snakes of the family 

 (Votalidae or pit vipers which includes the 

 rattlesiuikes and lance-heads. 



Crown : The top of the head, or the anterior 

 ])art of the top; usually occupied by 9 en- 

 larged scutes, fiom the rostral (on the snout) 

 to the parietals (fig. 6). 



Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of the skin 

 caused by insutlicient o.xygenation of the 

 blood. 



Depressed: (In reference to body shape.) 

 P^lattened from top to bottom (dorsoven- 

 trally), giving a greater breadth than height. 



Distal: Farther away from the body. (Com- 

 ])are ])r()xima].) 



Diuinal : Active during the daylight hours (see 

 nocturnal). 



Doi-sals: The rows of small scales that cover the 

 top (dorsal) surface of a snake's body. 

 They are counted in a diagonal (or zigzag) 

 lino from the edge of the ventral plate, 

 across the back to the opposite edge (fig. 7). 



Ecchymosis: A discoloration of the skin re- 

 sembling a bruise. It is caiised by the ex- 

 travasation of blood. 



Edema : The pi-esence of excessive fluid in the 

 intercellular tissue spaces. 



Ela])id(s) : Refers to the snakes of the family 

 Elapidae which includes the cobras, kraits, 

 coral siuikes, and mambas. 



Envenomation : The deposition of venom within 

 tissues. 



Extravasation: Passing of a body fluid out of 

 its proper place, as blood into surrounding 

 tissues after rupture of a vessel. 



Eye (Sizes): An ej-e of moderate size has a 

 diameter that is about equal to the eye's 



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