208. HYDEOPHIS. 271 



208. HYDROPHIS. 



Hydrus, part., Schndd. Hist. Amph. i. p. 233 (1799) ; Waaler, Syst. 



Amph. p. 166 (1830). v , y 



Hydrophis, part., Davd. Hist. Rept. vii. p. 872 (1808) ; Wagler, I. c. ; 



Sehleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 488 (1837) ; Gray, Cat. Sn. p. 49 (1849) ; 



Bum. 4 Bibr. £rp. Gin. vii. p. 1841 (1854); Fischer, Abh. 



Naturio. Hamb. iii. 1856, p. 41 ; Jan, Metico sist. Ofid. p. 109 



(1863) ; Gimth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 360 (1864). 

 Pelamis, part., Merrem, Tent. Syst. Amph. p. 138 (1820). 

 Enhydris, part., Merr. I. c. p. 140. 

 Disteira, part., Fitzing. N. Class. Rept. 2- 29 (1826). 

 Microeephalophis, Lesson, in Belong. Voy. Ind. Or., Rept. p. 320 



(1884) ; Gray, Cat. p. 46. 

 Liopala, G7-ay, Zool. Misc. p. 60 (1842). 

 Aturia, part., Gray, I. c. p. 61. 



Thalassophia, part., Schmidt, Abh. Naturio. Hamb. ii. 1852, p. 75. 

 Hydrophis, Bouleng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. .398 (1890). 



Maxillary longer than the ecfcop.terygoid, not extending forwards 

 as far as the palatine ; poison-fangs large, followed by a series of 

 7 to 18 solid teeth. Head small ; nostrils superior, pierced in a 

 single nasal shield, which is in contact with its fellow ; head-ahields 

 large ; praeocvilar present ; loreal usually absent. Body long, often 

 very slender anteriorly ; scales on the anterior part of the body 

 imbricate ; ventrals more or less distinct, very small. 



Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Persian Gulf to Southern 

 China and Northern Australia. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Head moderately small ; neck moderately slender, its diameter 



not less than half the greatest depth of the body. 



A. A single anterior temporal. 



Scales imbricate, 33-35 round the body 1. spiralis, p. 273. 

 Scales juxtaposed, 45 round the body . 2. polyodontus, p. 274. 



B. Two superposed anterior temporals. 



1. 32 scales round the neck, 43-47 round the body. 



Frontal slightly longer than broad, 



about as long as the nasals 3. schistosus, p. 274. 



Prontal much longer than broad, as 



long as its distance from the end 



of the snout 4. hyhridv^, p. 274. 



2. 28-30 scales round the neck, 34 round the body. 



6. longiceps, p. 275. 



II. Head very small ; neck very slender, its diameter not half the 



greatest depth of the body. 



A. Two superposed anterior temporals ; ventrals 285-331. 

 1. 34-38 scales round the neck. 



