(listiiiiif fnim till' li|i; !i large oyo's (liaiiictfr 

 is iilM>ut oiu> iiiiil one lialf tliis disliiiice; a 

 sniitll ovi' is iiIm)iiI oiii' liiilf lliis ilisliuic*-. 



Fanjjs: Knliirjjivl hollow or jjroovod tt-i'lh spo- 

 ciiilized for injection of venom (tig. 1). 



FiisciDtoniy : An incision ciittinjj; the fascia or 

 dense connective tissue tliat siii'i'ouiids mus- 

 cles. Sometimes used in li'calincnt of snake- 

 Itite to release pressuii' from severe swelling. 



Frontal: The sinijie enlar<j;ed median scule on 

 tiie crown hclwcen the supraoculars and he- 

 hind the prefrontals (li<;. 0). 



Gulars: Tlie rows of small nonspecialized scales 

 on the ventral surface of the lower jaw an- 

 terior to the ventral plates (fifj. fi). 



Ilemojilobinuria : The presence of hemoglobin 

 in the urine. 



Ilemotoxin : A toxin capable of destroying blood 

 cells. Often also ai)plied to toxins that cause 

 hemorrhage. 



ITerpetology : The scientific study of reptiles 

 and amphibians. 



Hypotension: Abnormally low blood pressure. 



Imbricate: Overlapping, as the tiles on a roof; 

 the usual condition for dorsal and ventral 

 scales. (Compare juxtaposed.) 



Infi-alabials: The (usually enlarged) scales 

 along the border of the lo\Yer lip behind the 

 mental (fig. 6). 



Intemasal(s) : The (usually paired) scutes on 

 the crown just behind the rostral (fig. 6). 



Intraperitoneal: "Within the peritoneum, or 

 peritoneal cavity, as intraperitoneal injection 

 of drugs. 



Juxtaposed: "With edges adjacent but not over- 

 lapping; the usual condition for head shields. 

 (Compare imbricate.) 



LD50: The amount of a drug or poison neces- 

 sary to kill 50 percent of the animals in a test 

 group; usually stated in mg. per kg. on a 

 dry basis. 



Loreal : The scale on the side of the head lying 

 between the (post-) nasal and the preocu- 

 ]ar(s) ; characteristically absent in elapid 

 snakes (fig. 6). 



Lyophilization : Process of quick freezing and 

 dehydration under a high vacuum. 



Mental : The triangular scale at the symphysis 

 of the lower jaw, corresponding in position 

 to the rostral of the upper jaw (fig. 6). 



Aryoglobiiiuria : l'Il•^enc(^ of a type, of nniscle 

 l)rotein in the urine. 



Nasal: The scale enclosing the nostril; may be 

 n/>if//t\ /Hirfldl/i/ (livitled (by a suture ex- 

 Iriidiiig down from the nostril), or com- 

 phlclij diridid (gi\ing a pre and post- 

 nasal) by a vertical sulind that, (extends 

 thi'ough the nostril (lig. (>). 



Nasal valve: A s|)hincter device for closing the 

 nostrils; found in some vipers and nearly all 

 sea snakes. 



Nasorostral (scale) : An eidarged scale (usually 

 paired) that lies just, behind the rostral scale 

 (e.g., between the rosti-al and llut nasal) in 

 some vipers. 



Necrosis: Death of a circumscribed portion of 

 tissue. 



Necrotizing: ('ai)able of causing necrosis. 



Neuromuscidar transmission: The relay of a 

 stimidus from the end of a nerve to its 

 muscle. 



Neurotoxin : A poison that has a more marked 

 effect on nerve tissue than other body tissues. 

 Often improperly used to denote that the 

 poison affects only the nervous system. 



Neutralize: The ability of a substance (anti- 

 venin)- to nullify the effects of another sub- 

 stance (venom). 



Nocturnal: Active during the night. (Com- 

 pare diurnal). 



Occipitals: Paired enlarged scutes that lie im- 

 mediately behind the parietals in a few 

 snakes, e.g. king cobra (fig. 81). 



Paresis: A slight, or incomplete paralysis, some- 

 times noted as a weakness of a muscle. 



Paresthesia: An abnormal sensation, as prick- 

 ing, numbness or burning. 



Parietals: The large paired scutes at the rear 

 end of the crown, immediately behind the 

 frontal and supraoculars (fig. 6). 



Petechiae: Small spots formed by the effusion 

 of blood. 



Pit (or Loreal Pit) : The deep depressions on 

 the side of the head in the loreal region in 

 pit vipers (family Crotalidae) ; they are 

 heat-sensitive and aid the snake in finding its 

 prey in the dark (fig. 4). 



Plate: A large flat scale, usually on the head 

 or ventral surface. 



Polyvalent : Used in this text to denote a serum 



182 



