MORPHOLOGY OF VENOMOUS SNAKES 17 



Elapechis guentheri. 



Color whitish or gray above, with black crossbars; belly whitish or brownish, 

 or gray. Total length about 1.5 feet. Gaboon, Congo, Angola, central Africa. 



Elapechis niger. 



Whole body black. Not over 1.5 feet in length. Inhabits Zanzibar. 



Elapechis hessii. 



Color gray with black crossbars; belly white. Total length about 5 inches. 

 Congo. 



Elapechis decosteri. 



Color dark gray; each scale has a black margin; belly white. Total length 

 about 1 foot. Delagoa Bay. 



Elapechis sundevallii. 



Reddish color with yellow transverse bands; scales bordered with brownish 

 red margin; upper lip and belly yellow. Total length 1.5 to 2 feet. 



Elapechis boulengeii. 



Back black with tiny white crossbands; head white, belly grayish-black. Total 

 length only 5 to 6 inches. Inhabits Zambesia. 



Genus ASPIDELAPS Fitzinger. 



The maxillary bone is farther advanced than the palatine bone, as in Sepedon, 

 with a pair of very large poison fangs, besides which there are no teeth on maxilla. 

 Head slightly distinct from neck. Moderate-sized eyes with round or vertical pupil. 

 Body cylindrical. Scales oblique and keeled in 19 to 23 rows. Ventrals rounded 

 off. Tail short and obtuse. Subcaudals in two rows. 



Aspidelaps lubricus. 



Orange or red with black rings; top of head sometimes completely black. Total 

 length about 2 feet. Cape and Namaqualand. 

 Aspidelaps scutatus. 



Pale gray with black specks or crossbars; head has a black curved (~) mark; 

 black collar around neck; belly whitish. Total length about 1.5 to 2 feet. Natal, 

 Delagoa, Mozambique. 



Genus WALTERINHESIA Lataste. 



The maxillary bone surpasses the palatine bone in length. It carries a pair of 

 very powerful poison fangs, but no other maxillary teeth. Head and neck distinct. 

 Eyes very small, with a round pupil. Body cylindrical. Scales somewhat keeled 

 and in 23 rows; the subcaudals in two series. The tail is short. 

 Walterinnesia asgyptia. 



Dorsal side blackish-brown; belly light in degree. This snake may grow 3.5 to 

 4 feet long. Egypt. 



Genus DENDRASPIS Schlegel. 



The maxillary bone is curved at the base, and carries a pair of strong poison 

 fangs. No other maxillary teeth. A long terminal tooth on each mandible. Head 

 narrow, elongate; eyes moderate in size, with round pupils. Body slightly com- 

 pressed; scales narrow, and very oblique, in 13 to 25 rows. Tail long; subcaudals 

 in two rows. 



Dendraspis viridis. 



Color uniform olive green; head black; lip yellow; belly and tail yellow, with 

 scales and plates bordered black. Total length about 6 feet. Western Africa, 

 Senegal, St. Thomas Island. 



