MORPHOLOGY OF VENOMOUS SNAKES 7 



Genus DRYOPHIS Dalman. 



Eight species. Southeastern Asia. 



Genus CCELOPELTIS Wagler. 

 Behind the row of numerous small maxillary teeth are i or 2 much larger, grooved 

 fangs at a level below the posterior border of the eye. Anterior 6 teeth on the 

 mandible much larger than the rest. Pupil round. The scales of the adult have 

 more or less longitudinal groove and are in 17 to 19 rows. Ventrals laterally round, 

 indicating their terrestrial habit. Subcaudals divided. Two species in the Medi- 

 terranean district and in southwestern Asia. This genus is also called Malpolon. 



Ccelopeltis monspessulana s. lacertina. 



This snake exceeds all the European snakes in length, reaching 6 feet. The 

 tail alone takes up about a quarter of the whole length. Dorsal olive-brown or 

 yellowish or reddish, with small, dark, light-edged spots in some instances ; lateral 

 color often blackish, with whitish spots; ventral color yellowish-white, with or 

 without brownish markings. There are some very green specimens with a dull 

 blackish neck. The concave shape of the head is responsible for its specific name 

 lacertina. They are found around rather dry localities with shrubs, and lizards, 

 birds, and mice furnish their prey. When disturbed they make a loud hissing, but 

 seldom bite. The bite, when effected, produces a certain paralytic effect upon the 

 small animals, and its action is rapid. This species is also called Malpolon imignitus. 



Ccelopeltis moilensis. 



Northern Sahara, Nubia, Arabia, Western Persia. 



Genus MACROPROTODON Boulenger. 1 

 Macroprotodon cucullatus. 



Dentition peculiar. Examining from the anterior to posterior, there are 3 small 



teeth and the fourth and fifth are elongated, followed by an interspace. Several 



small teeth and lastly 2 enlarged, grooved teeth then complete the remaining rear 



space. Dorsal side pale brown or gray with small spots or streaks on the body, 



and with a larger black patch semicircularly around the neck; ventral side bright 



red or yellowish, sometimes with blackish spots. It inhabits Andalusia, the Balearic 



Islands, and North Africa. Total length under 2 feet. 



Genus PSAMMODYNASTES Gunther. 



Psammodynastes Gunther, Cat. Brit. Mus., Colubr. Sn., 140. 

 Anisodontes Rosen, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), 1905, XVI, 128. 



Third and often fourth maxillary teeth much enlarged. Scales without pits. 

 Anal undivided, distinguishing by this from Dipsasmorphus Fitzinger. 

 Psammodynastes pulverulentus Boie. 



Psammophis pulverulenta Boie, 1827 = Psammodynastes pulverulentus Gunther, Cat. Colubr. Sn., 

 Brit. Mus., 1858, 140, 251. Boulenger, Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus., 1896. 



Size small. Brownish-gray densely spotted with dusky and pale ochraceous, 

 forming a very obscure pattern. Several V-shaped narrow bands on head. Under 

 side brownish-gray with two narrow dusky bands, one on each side of median line. 

 The grayish ground-color is produced by innumerable dusky specks powdered all 

 over the surface. Coloration is, however, variable. Eastern Himalaya, Malay 

 peninsula and archipelago, Indo-China, Philippine Islands, and Formosa. 



Genus TRIMORPHODON Cope. 



Trimorphodon Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 297. 



Posterior maxillary teeth elongate, grooved; anterior teeth of both jaws elongate; 

 intermediate teeth of maxillary series shorter. Pupil vertical. Head triangular 



1 The following Opisthoglyphous genera enumerated in Cope's work have elongated middle maxillary 

 teeth; posteriors grooved: Passerita Gray, Gephrinus Cope, Tragops Wagler, Tropidococcyx 

 Gunther. 



