480 
THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION 
Diagrams of head and body scalation in a typi¬ 
cal snake. Head scales: (A) lateral, (B) dorsal, 
and (C) Ventral views. 
Body scale patterns and how best to count scale 
rows. Body scales arranged in (D) oblique rows, 
and (E) parallel rows. 
Diagrams modified from Smith (1943) 
G. Lateral and dorsal views of the head of a king cobra, Ophiophagus 
hannah. Note in particular the absence of the loreal scale between 
the postnasal and the preocular scales. This is characteristic of all 
elapine snakes, but the absence must be used with care because a 
number of non-venomous colubrine snakes also lack the loreal. 
H. Lateral and dorsal view of a typical Philippine viperine snake, 
Trimeresurus (Parias) flavomaculatus. Note the position of the 
sensory pit located on the side of the head between the 
nostril and the eye. 
Diagrams of skulls of elapine {Naja naja) (I) and crotaline viper (Crotalus horridus) (J) skulls. 
(I) maxilla is attached to ectopterygoid and cannot rotate; small post-fang maxillary teeth usually behind venom 
delivery fangs; (J) Maxillary bone small, rotates against ectopterygoid; no teeth behind venom delivery fangs. 
Diagrams from Boulenger (1893, 3:373 and 3:518) 
(max = maxillary bone; ect = ectoptygeroid bone) 
Ligures 3A-J. Diagrams of diagnostic scale and dental characters of Philippine snakes. 
