THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF POISONOUS SNAKES 141 



nostrils lateral, the nasal shields separated by the internasals. 

 Body greatly elongate; scales smooth and imbricate; ventrals and 

 subcaudals large. 



Four species, distributed in the eastern parts of the Indian 

 Ocean and in the Western Pacific. 



P. laticaudatus (syn. P. fischeri ; fig. 84). — Olive above, 

 yellowish on the belly, with 29 — 48 black annuli. 



Total length : 970 millimetres ; tail 90. 



Habitat : From the Bay of Bengal to the China Sea and the 

 Western South Pacific Ocean. 



P- coluhrinus (fig. 83). — Olive above, yellowish on the belly, 

 >ivith 28 — 54 black annuh, some or all of which may be interrupted 

 below. 



Total length, 1,270 millimetres; tail 125. 



Habitat : From the Bay of Bengal to the China Sea and the 

 Western South Pacific Ocean. 



P. muelleri. — 62 black annuli, some of which are interrupted 

 on the belly. 



Habitat : Only found in the South Pacifi'c Ocean (subtropical 

 zone), as far as the New Hebrides and the shores of Tasmania. 



P- schistorhynchus. — Coloration and size as in P. colubrinus ; 

 body with 25 — 45 annuli. 



Habitat : Western Tropical Pacific. 



