266 



68. Diemenia Giinther. 

 (GUNTHER, Ann. Nat. Hist. (3) XII p. 350, 1863). 



Head slightly distinct from neck; eye moderate or large; 

 pupil round; canthus rostralis distinct; nasal entire or divided; 

 loreal absent. Maxillary teeth 2 large, grooved fangs, separated 

 by an interspace from 7 15 small, grooved teeth; anterior 

 mandibular teeth strongly enlarged. Body round, covered with 

 smooth scales without pits, in 15 19 rows, more on the neck; 

 ventrals rounded. Tail moderate or long; subcaudals all or 

 the greater part in two rows. 



Distribution. New Guinea; Australia. 



Key to the Indo-Australian species. 



A. Rostral almost as deep as broad; internasals at 



least half as long as praefrontals I. D. psammophis p. 266. 



B. Rostral much more broad than deep ; internasals 



not more than half so long as praefrontals .... 2. D. olivacea p. 267. 



i. Diemenia psammophis (Schlegel). 



Elaps psammophis^ Schlegel, Phys. Serp. 1837, p. 455. 



Diemenia psammophis, Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Ill 1896, p. 322 (s. syn.). 



Rostral about as deep as broad, visible from above; nasal 



Fig. 107. Diemenia psammophis (Schleg.). X 2 /3- 



divided, in contact with the praeocular; internasals one half 



