6i8 



OPHIDIA 



CHAI'. 



Dendrophis with about ten species inhabits South-Eastern 

 Asia and Australia. They are typical Tree-Snakes. The scales 

 are keeled, and form only thirteen or fifteen rows ; those of the 

 vertebral row are enlarged ; the ventrals have a pair of suture- 

 like lateral keels and a notch on each side, arrangements which 

 are of great assistance in climbing, these snakes being able to 

 slide up the branches of trees in almost straight lines instead of 

 having to twist and undulate their way up. 



FIG. 163. Dendrophis punctulatus. x . 



D. punctulatus, of Northern and Eastern Australia, is olive- 

 brown above, uniform or with black edges and yellow outer 

 borders to the scales. The upper lips, the throat and anterior 

 ventrals, are yellowish. Total length up to 6 feet. 



Leptophis is a Neotropical genus of Tree-Snakes. The body 

 and the extremely long, whip-like tail are very slender. The 

 head is very distinct from the neck ; the eye is large, with a 

 round pupil. The scales form thirteen or fifteen rows ; the 

 ventrals are sometimes angulate laterally ; the sub-caudals are 

 double. L. (Ahaetulla) liocerus is a beautiful snake, green above 



