22 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA^OF THEIR- VENOMS 



Genus TROPIDECHIS Gilnther. 



Same- characters as Hoplocephalus and ' Micropechis. Scales of trunk more 

 keeled in 23 rows. ._ Tail moderate; subcaudals in one row. 



Tropidechis carinata. 



Dark olive with darker transverse 'bands ;. belly more or less olive-green or yel- 

 low. Lengthabout 2.5 feet. New South Wales, Queensland. 



I Genus HOTECHIS Boulenger. 7 (Plate 8, b.) .,. 



Maxillarj^extending fprward^s'far as the palatine, with a pair of large, grooved 

 poisoned fahg§ followed by 4 or 5 smalL. feebly grooved ieeth; mandibular teeth, 

 anterior longest Yand feebly" grooved^ Head distjnpt ■'from; neck, with distinct 

 canthus rosf talis ; eye rather; small, with" round pupil; nasal entire; no loreal. 

 Body cylindrical, but scales, of trunk are smooth and 'oblique, in 15 to 19 rows. 

 Lateral scales' shorter thantfforsal. Tail moderate, subcaudals in single row. 



Notechis scutatus s. Hoplocephalus curtus. 



This famous snake, known as " Tiger snake," has dark-olive color; belly yellow 

 or oliye; scales have often dark rim, in 15 to 19 rows, which are smooth. The 

 olive Color of the body is often crossed with dark bands. 



Genus RHIHHOPLOCEPHALUS F. Mfiller. 



- Dentition same as Hoplocephalus. Head and neck little distinct. Eyes small 

 with round "pupil. No iriternasals. Body cylindrical, rigid, and smooth scales 

 in 15 rows.- Tail is short, subcaudal in one single row. 



Rhinhoplocephalus tricolor. 



Olive-gray color above, whitish-yellow on belly; white tongue. Length about 

 1.25 feet- Australia. 



Genus BRACHYASPISlBoulenger. 



Same' characteristics] as above, but head distinct from neck; eyes small and have 

 a verticalfpupil. - Body stout and cylindrical. Scales smooth, slightly oblique, in 

 19 rows.; -Tail short, subcaudals in one row. 



Brachyaspis carta. 



Uniform brown-olive color, with yellowish belly. Length about 1.5 feet. West- 

 ern Australia. 



■ Genus ACANTHOPHIS Daddin. (Plate 8, c.) 



The. "death adder" has a maxillary bone equaling the palatine in length, and 

 the former carries a pair of large poison fangs, followed by.a series of two or three 

 small teeth in the rear. The anterior mandibular teeth are so elongated as to 

 appear like the fangs. Head distinct from neck. Eyes small with vertical pupil. 

 Body short and thick, covered with 21 to 23 rows of keeled scales. - Anterior caudals 

 in one and the posterior in two rows. Tail peculiar in form, being laterally com- 

 pressed, with a thin, horny, terminal spine. This snake is viviparous. 



Acanthophis antarcticus. 



This is the real "death adder," the type of this genus. The colors of the upper 

 parts are a mixture of brown, reddish, and yellow, often spotted with black or brown. 

 End of tail yellow, reddish-brown, or black. Length under 3 feet. Moluccas, 

 New Guinea, Australia. 



Genus ELAPOGNATHTJS Boulenger. 



The maxillary bone surpasses the palatine bone, with a pair of fairly developed 

 poison fangs, but no other teeth; mandibular teeth of equal length. Eyes moder- 

 ate, the pupil round. Body cylindrical and covered with 15 rows of smooth scales. 

 Tail moderate, the subcaudal in one row. 



