14. EITNBCTES. 115 



14. EUNECTES. 



Boa, part., Linn. Syst, Nat. i. p. 373 (1766) : Sehleg. Phys. Serp. ii. 



p. 373 (1837). 

 Draco (non Laur.), part., Ohen, Lehrb. Naturg. iii. p. 273 (1816). 

 Eunectes, Wagl. Syst. Amph. p. 167 (1830) ; i>um. I Bibr, Erp. Gen. 



vi. p. 527 (1844) ; Gray, Cat. 8n. p. 102 (1849) ; Jan, Icon. GSn. 



p. 83 (1864). 



Anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth, longest, gradually 

 decreasing in size. Head distinct from neck ; snout covered with 

 shields ; nostril directed upwards, between three nasals, the upper 

 of which are in contact behind the rostral. Eye small, wrUh vertical 

 pupU. Body cylindrical ; scales very small, smooth. Tail short, 

 slightly prehensile ; subcaudals single. 



South America. 



1. Eunectes murinus. 



fSeba, Thes. ii. pi. xxix. fig. 1 (1735). 



Boa murina, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 374 (1766) ; Schneid. Hist. Amph. ii. 



p. 241 (1801) ; Baud. Sept. v. p. 155 (1803) ; Schneid. Denkschr. 



Ah. Miinch. vii. 1821, p. 108 ; Schleq. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 380, pi. xiv. 



figs. 1 & 2 (1837). 



scytale, part., Linn. I. c. 



scytale, Schneid. Hist. Amph. ii. p. 248. 



gigas, Latr. Hept. iii. p. 136 (1802). 



anacondo. Laud. t. c. p. 161, pi. Ixiii. fig. 2. 



aquatica, Wied, Beitr. Nat. Bras. i. p. 226 (1826), and Ablild. 



(1831). 

 Eunectes murinus, Gray, Griff. A. K. ix., Syn. p. 96 (1831) } Lum. Sf 



Bibr. vi. p. 528 (1844) ; Gray, Cat. p. 102 (1849) ; Jan, Icon. Gen. 



p. 84, 1. 6, pi. iii. (1864). . 



Eostral as broad as deep, scarcely visible from above ; a pair of 

 large prsefrontals, followed by smaller shields ; a large loreal, a 

 large prseocular, and a large supraocular ; three postoculars and two 

 suboculars, separated from the labials by a series of small shields ; 

 fifteen to seventeen upper labials. Scales smooth, in 57 to 63 rows. 

 Ventrals 242-266 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 56-73. Greyish brown 

 or olive above, with a single series or vsdth two alternating series 

 of large blackish transverse spots and one or two lateral series of 

 blackish ocelli with white centres ; top of the head dark, separated 

 from the paler sides by a black streak forming a point on the snout ; 

 an oblique black streak on each side of the head, behind the eye ; 

 lower parts whitish, spotted with black. 



Total length 6600 millim. ; is said to attain a length of 

 10 metres (33 feet). 



Guianas, Brazil, N.E. Peru. 



a b. Hgr. S (So. 59 ; V. 247 ; Surinam. Lidth de Jeude 



'C 66) & yg. (Sc. 59; V. Collection. 



247: 0.63). 

 c Yg. (Sc. 63 ; V. 245 ; C. 67). British Guiana. 

 d. Hgr., stifd. Para. 



® i2 



