i62 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



hollow fangs. In some, this union of the two edges of the channel 

 is well advanced, having firmly united in places. These snakes 

 all possess a highly-specialized poison apparatus. 



Most species of the Elapinas are viviparous. 



There are fourteen species or kinds of snakes belonging to 

 the above sub-family which inhabit South Africa south of the 

 Zambesi. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA, 



Genus Naia. — Maxillary extending beyond the palatine, with a pair of 

 large grooved poison-fangs, and one to three small faintly 'grooved 

 teeth near its posterior extremity ; mandibular teeth, anterior 

 the longest ; head not, or but slightly, distinct from the neck ; 

 eye moderate or rather large, with round pupil ; nostril between 

 two nasals and the internasal ; no loreal. Body cylindrical ; 

 scales smooth without pits, disposed obUquely in 15 to 25 rows 

 (or more on the necP) ; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate ; 

 sub-caudals all or greater part in two rows. 



Genus Sepedon. — Maxillary extending forwards beyond the palatine, 

 with a pair of large grooved poison fangs ; no other maxillary 

 teeth ; mandibular teeth, anterior longest. Head not distinct 

 from neck ; canthus rostralis distinct ; eye moderate with round 

 pupil ; nostril between two nasals and the internasal ; no loreal. 

 Body shghtly flattened ; scales oblique, keeled, without pits, 

 in 19 rows ; ventrals rounded. Tail moderate ; sub-caudals 

 in two rows. 



Genus Aspidelaps. — Maxillary extending forwards beyond the palatine, 

 with a pair of large, grooved poison fangs ; no other maxillary 

 teeth ; mandibular teeth, anterior longest. Head slightly 

 distinct from neck ; eye moderate with round or vertically 

 elliptic pupil ; rostral shield very large, detached on the sides ; 

 nostril between two or three nasals, and the internasal ; no 

 loreal. Body cylindrical ; scales obhque, smooth or keeled, 

 without pits, in 19 to 23 rows ; ventrals rounded. Tail short ; 

 obtuse. Sub-caudals in two rows. 



Genus Elapechis. — Maxillary bone extending forwards as far as the 

 palatine, with a pair of large grooved poison fangs, followed by 

 two to four small teeth ; mandibular teeth anterior longest. 

 Head not distinct from neck ; eye small with round pupil ; 

 nostril between two nasals ; no loreal. Body cylindrical ; scales 

 oblique, smooth, without pits, in 13 to 15 rows. Ventrals rounded. 

 Tail very short ; sub-caudals all or most in two rows. 



Genus Homorelaps. — Maxillary extending forwards beyond the palatine, 

 with a pair of large poison fangs, pterygoids toothless ; mandi- 

 bular teeth few, sub-equal. Head small, not distinct from neck ; 

 eye very small with round pupil ; nostril in a single nasal ; no 

 loreal. Body cylindrical; scales smooth without pits, in 15 

 rows ; ventrals rounded. Tail short ; sub-caudals in two rows. 

 No postfrontal bone ; prefrontals widely separated from each 

 other and in contact with the parietals, excluding the frontals 

 from the orbital periphery. 



