300 



COLTJBEID^. 



210. ENHYDKIS. 



Enhydris, part., Merrem, Tent. Syst. Amph. p. 140 (1820). 

 Hydrophis, part., Schleg. Fhys. Serp. ii. p. 488 (1837) ; Dum. ^ Bibr. 



Erp. 06n. vii. p. 1341 (1854) ; Jan, Eleneo sist. Ofid. p. 109 (1863) ; 



Qilnth. Bept. Brit. Ind. p. 360 (1864). 

 Lapemis, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 60 (1842), and Cat. iSn. p. 43 (1849). 

 Pelamis, part., Fischer, Abh. Naturio. Hamh. iii. 1856, p. 61. 

 Enhydris, Bouleng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. 396 (1890)_. 



Maxillary as long as the ectopterygoid, extending forwards as far 

 as the palatine, with two large poison-fangs and 2 to 4 small feebly- 

 grooved teeth. Kostrils superior ; head-shields large ; nasals in 

 ■contact with each other ; a prseociilar ; loreal present or absent, 

 ^ody short and stout ; scales hexagonal or squarish, juxtaposed ; 

 ventrals very feebly developed, if at all distinct. 



From the coasts of India to the Chinese Sea and New Guinea. 



1. Enhydris curtus. 



Hydrus cm-tus, Shaw, Zool. iii. p. 562 (1802). 



Enhydris curtus, Merr. Tent. p. 140 (1820) ; Bouleng. Faun. Ind., 



Bept. p. 396 (1890). 

 Lapemis curtus, Oray, Zool. Misc. p. 60 (1842), and Cat. p. 44 



(1849). 

 Hydrophis propinquus, Jan, Bev. ^ Mag. Zool. 1859, p. 151, Prodr. 



pi. E (1859), and Icon. Gen. 41, pi. i. fig. 2 (1872). 

 curta, Giinth. Bept. Brit. Ind. p. 379 (1864) ; Fayrer, 



Thanatoph. Ind. pi. xxiv. (1874) ; Stoliczka, Proc. As. Soc. Beng. 



1872, p. 91 ; Murray, Zool. Sind, p. 395 (1884). 



EoBtral broader than deep ; internasals twice to thrice as long as 

 the suture between the prsefrontals ; parietals broken up into small 

 shields ; one prte- and one or two postoculars ; no loreal ; two or 

 three superposed anterior temporals ; seven upper labials, fourth, 

 third, and fourth, or third, fourth, and fifth entering the eye ; chin- 

 shields very small and separated by scales, or quite indistinct. 30 

 -to 38 scales round the anterior part of the body, 33 to 42 round 

 the middle, with a very feebly-developed tubercle or short keel ; 

 the scales on the lower surface, in the male, with a very strong 

 spinose tubercle. Ventrals distinct in the anterior half of the 

 body, with two spinose tubercles in the male, 150-200. Above 

 with dark transverse bands, broadest in the middle ; these bands 

 are usually very dark, nearly black, but in some old specimens 

 rather indistinct; end of tail black. 



Total length 750 miUim. ; tail 75. 



Coasts of India and Ceylon. 



a. Yg. (V. 152). India. (Type.) 



b. Hgr. (V. 152). India. 



c. S (V. 157). Malabar. Col. Beddome [C.]. 

 (?. ?■ (V. 194). Mangalore, S. Canara. E. Pringle, Esq. [P.]. 

 e-f. 5 (V. 160) & yg. Trevandrum, Travan- H. S. Ferguson, Esq. 



(V. 182). core. [P.]. 



