containing antitoxins against the venoms of 

 a number of different snakes. 



Postoculars: The scale (s) immediately behind 

 and in contact with the eye. Usually be- 

 tween the supralabials and the supraoculars 

 (fig. 6). 



Prefrontal (s) : The (usually paired) enlarged 

 scutes just behind the interaasals, or that 

 area if it is covered with small scales (fig. 



6). 

 Prehensile (in reference to tail) : Adapted for 



grasping Ijy wrapping around; usually vis- 

 ible as a curled and compressed tail tip. 



Typical of tree snakes. 

 Preoculars: Tlie scale (s) lying immediately in 



front of and in contact with the eye (fig. 6). 

 Proteolytic : Capable of causing the digestion or 



dissolution of proteins. 

 Proximal : Nearest to the main part of the body 



or the median line of the Ixxly. (Compare 



distal.) 

 Ptosis: A drooping of the upper eyelid. 

 Pupil (of eye) : The black opening enclosed by 



the iris; may be round, horizontally ellijiti- 



cal, or vertically elliptical. 

 Rostral : The single enlarged plale at the tip of 



the snout (fig. 6). 

 Savannah: Open grassy country interspersed 



with small groups of trees or bushes. 

 Scutes: Overlapping or juxtaposed scales that 



cover the surface of the body. Formed 



of horny skin in reptiles, differing from the 



bony scales of fishes. 

 Shield: An enlarged scale or scute, commonly 



specialized and with a distinctive name. 

 Shock position : Victim lying on his back with 



head and chest slightly lower than his feet. 

 Snakebite: A bite inflicted by either a venomous 



or nonvenomous snake. 

 Snake venom poisoning: A condition I'esulting 



from the injection of snake venom. 

 Subcaudals: The scales or scutes under the tail; 



they may extend across the entire ventral 



surface (single), or go only half way across, 



where thev are met by another scale (paired) 



(fig. 10).' 

 Suboculars: The scale (s) immediately below 



and in contact with the eye; between the eye 



and the supralabials (fig. 6). 



Subterranean : Living under the surface of the 

 ground. (Compare terrestrial.) 



Supra-anal tubercles: Small raised keel-like 

 structures on the dorsal scales above the vent 

 in some snakes. 



Supralabials: The scales (usually enlarged) or 

 scutes along the border of the upper lip be- 

 hind the rostral (fig. 6). 



Supraoculars: The enlarged scales or scutes 

 (sometimes divided) on the crown directly 

 above each eye (fig. 6). 



Suture: A line of division between two scales. 



Swelling: An enlarged area. 



Temporals: Scales or scutes on the side of the 

 head between the parietals and the suprala- 

 bials, and behind the postoculars; anterior 

 temporal (s) are in contact with the post- 

 oculars; posterior (sometimes secondaiy and 

 tertiary) temporals are in vertical rows, not 

 in contact with postoculars (fig. 6). 



Terrestrial: T.iiving on land or on the ground. 

 (See aquatic, arboreal, subterranean.) 



Toxin: A naturally occui'i'ing poisonous s\ib- 

 stance. A sj-nonym for venom or poison. 



Trismus: Tetanic spasm of jaw muscles; lock- 

 jaw. 



rrticaiiu: A skin ei'uptioii, usually associated 

 with allergy, characterized by sudden ap- 

 ])earance of smooth, slightly elevated patches 

 usually paler than the surrounding skin and 

 accompanied by itching. Commonly called 

 hives or nettle rash. 



Vasopressor: A drug that raises blood pressure 

 by stimulating the contracting muscles of the 

 ca]iillaries and arterioles. 



Veldt : The open grassy regions of the African 

 highlands. 



Venom ajiparatus: The structural components 

 that produce, transport and deliver the 

 venom. In snakes, it is usually composed of 

 two venom glands, two venom ducts, and two 

 or more teeth or fangs. 



Vent : The common posterior opening of the 

 urinary, gastrointestinal, and reproductive 

 systems of reptiles; marks the beginning of 

 the tail in snakes. 



Ventrals: The enlarged scales (scutes or plates) 

 that extend down the undersurface of the 

 body (fig. 9). 



Vesiculation : The formation of blisters. 



183 



