Fig. 34.—Skull ofDendraspis viridis(Poisonous West African Colubrine). (After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Fig. 34.—Skull ofDendraspis viridis(Poisonous West African Colubrine). (After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Maxillary bone curved upwards, bearing a pair of powerful poison-fangs, not fissured, and not followed by other teeth; along tooth at the end of each ramus of the mandible. Head narrow, elongate; eye moderate, with round pupil; nostril between two shields. Body slightly compressed; scales smooth, narrow, very oblique, in 13-23 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail long; subcaudals in 2 rows.
(1)D. viridis.—211-225 ventral scales; 107-119 subcaudals.
Colour uniform olive-green. Shields on the head edged with black; lips yellow; belly and tail yellow, with scales and shields bordered with black.
Total length, 1,830 millimetres; tail 460.
Habitat: West Africa, from the Senegal to the Niger; St. Thome Island.
(2)D. jamesonii.—Coloration as before. Scales in 15-19 rows (19-21 on the neck); 210-235 ventrals; 99-121 subcaudals. Tail sometimes black.
Total length, 2,100 millimetres; tail 560.
Habitat: West Africa, from the Niger to Angola; Central Africa.
(3)D. angusticeps(The Mamba).—202-270 ventral scales; 99-121 subcaudals.
Colour green, olive, or blackish, uniform; belly yellowish or pale green; caudal scales and shields not bordered with black.
Total length, 2,000 millimetres; tail 430.
Habitat: West Africa, south of the Congo; Central Africa, East Africa, Transvaal, Natal.
(4)D. antinorii.—Scales in 21-23 rows; 248 ventrals; 117 subcaudals. Colour olive on the back, yellowish on the belly.
Total length, 2,690 millimetres; tail 545.
Habitat: Abyssinia.
The AfricanViperidæall belong to the SubfamilyViperinæ, of which the following are the seven principal genera:—
(a)Causus.(b)Vipera.(c)Bitis.(d)Cerastes.(e)Echis.(f)Atheris.(g)Atractaspis.
Head distinct from the neck, covered with symmetrical shields; nostril between two nasal shields, and the internasal; eyes moderate, with round pupils, separated from the lips by subocular shields. Body cylindrical; scales smooth or keeled, oblique on the sides, in 15-22 rows; ventral scales rounded. Tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows or single.
Four species:—
(1)C. rhombeatus.—Snout obtuse, moderately prominent. Scales in 17-21 rows; 120-155 ventrals; 15-29 subcaudals.
Colour olive or pale brown, usually with a series of V-shaped brown spots bordered with white, and a large spot in the form of a circumflex accent at the back of the head; lips bordered with black; belly yellowish or grey.
Total length, 700 millimetres; tail 75.
Habitat: Tropical and South Africa, from the Gambia to the Cape.
(2)C. resimus.—Snout prominent, more or less turned up; scales in 19-22 rows; 134-152 ventrals; 17-25 subcaudals.
Colour greyish-olive on the back; uniform white on the belly.
Total length, 470 millimetres; tail 40.
Habitat: Central and East Africa, Angola.
(3)C. defilipii.—Snout prominent, more or less turned up. Scales in 17 rows; 113-125 ventrals; 10-18 subcaudals.
Colour grey or pale brown above, with a series of large rhomboidal or V-shaped blackish-brown spots; a large A-shaped dark brown mark on the occiput; an oblique dark streak behind the eye; supralabial shields edged with black; belly yellowish.
Total length, 400 millimetres; tail 22.
Habitat: Central and East Africa, Transvaal.
Fig. 35.—Skull ofCausus rhombeatus.(After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Fig. 35.—Skull ofCausus rhombeatus.(After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
(4)C. lichtensteinii.—Snout obtuse; scales in 15 rows; 142-144 ventrals; subcaudals 15-21, single.
Colour greyish, with rather indistinct darker chevron-shaped cross-bands.
Total length, 413 millimetres; tail 35.
Habitat: West Africa (Gold Coast), Congo.
In North Africa are foundVipera latastii,V. ammodytes, and especiallyV. lebetina, the range of which extends from Morocco to Northern India.Vipera superciliaris, which occurs on the coast of Mozambique, has the snout rounded, and the head covered with small, imbricate, keeled scales, with a large supraocular shield; nostril very large, between two nasal shields; scales on the body strongly keeled, in 27 rows; 142 ventrals; 40 subcaudals.
The colour is pale reddish-brown or orange, with blackish transverse bars broken by a longitudinal yellow band on each side; the belly is white, spotted with black.
Total length, 570 millimetres; tail 77.
TheViperidæbelonging to this genus have the head very distinct from the neck, covered with small imbricate scales; the eyes rather small, with vertical pupils, separated from the lips by small scales; the nostrils directed upwards and outwards, usually pierced in a single nasal shield, with a rather deep pit above, closed by a valvular supranasal. The postfrontal bones are very large, in contact with the ectopterygoids. Scales keeled, with apical pits, in 22-41 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail very short; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.
(1)B. arietans(the Puff Adder;fig. 37).—This viper has the nostrils on the upper surface of the snout, and two series of scales between the supranasal shields; 12-16 supralabials; 3-5 lower labials. The scales on the body are in 29-41 rows, and strongly keeled; ventrals 131-145; subcaudals 16-34.
The body is thick, the head large and triangular, and the tail very short. The colour is dirty yellow or orange, with large,transverse or oblique, chevron-shaped black bands; an oblique black band extends behind the eye. The belly is dirty yellow, uniform, or marked with small black spots.
Total length, 1,350 millimetres, sometimes more; tail 160.
Fig. 36.—SkullofBitis arietans(the Puff Adder). (After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Fig. 36.—SkullofBitis arietans(the Puff Adder). (After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Habitat: This snake is met with throughout Africa, from Southern Morocco, Kordofan, and Somaliland, to the Cape of Good Hope, and also in Southern Arabia. It is especially common near the Niger and on the Congo.
When irritated, it puffs itself out to such an extent that itsbody becomes twice the ordinary size. It then doubles back its head and neck in the shape of an S, and emits a loud and prolonged hiss. Before biting, it first strikes a blow with its head as with a battering-ram, thus justifying its French name,vipère heurtante(Striking Viper).
Fig. 37.—Bitis arietans(the Puff Adder). (After Duméril and Bibron.)
Fig. 37.—Bitis arietans(the Puff Adder). (After Duméril and Bibron.)
The natives of South Africa assert that this Viper is able tospring high enough to strike a rider on horseback. It feeds upon rats and mice, in search of which it often approaches habitations.
The Hottentots hunt it in order to obtain its venom; they pound its head between stones, and mix the pulp with the juice of certain plants for the purpose of poisoning their arrows.
It lives for a fairly long time in captivity. At the Pasteur Institute at Lille I have succeeded in keeping one of these snakes for two years, feeding it by forcing milk and eggs down its throat.
(2)B. peringueyi.—Nostrils opening upwards and outwards. Head covered with small, strongly keeled scales, which are smallest on the vertex; 11 scales round the eye; 3 series of scales between the eye and the lip; 11-14 supralabials. Scales on the body in 25-27 rows, strongly keeled; 130-132 ventrals; 19-28 subcaudals.
Colour greyish-olive, with 3 longitudinal series of grey or blackish spots; head sometimes with a trident-shaped dark mark, followed by a cross; under surface whitish, with small dark spots.
Total length, 325 millimetres; tail 26.
Habitat: Angola and Damaraland.
(3)B. atropos.—Nostrils opening upwards and outwards, 13-16 scales round the eye; 2-5 series of scales between the supranasals; 10-12 supralabials; 3-4 infralabials. Scales on the body in 29-31 rows, all strongly keeled; 124-145 ventrals; 18-29 subcaudals.
Colour brown or grey-brown, with 4 longitudinal series of dark spots, edged with black and white; two large black marks on the head; belly grey or brown, with darker spots.
Total length, 350 millimetres; tail 25.
Habitat: Cape of Good Hope.
(4)B. inornata.—Eyes smaller than inB. atropos, and separated from the lips by 4 series of scales; supraorbital region raised, but without erect horn-like scales; 15-17 scales across the head; 13-14 supralabials; 3 lower labials. Scales on the body in 27-29 rows, all keeled; 126-140 ventrals; 19-26 subcaudals.
Total length, 350 millimetres; tail 30.
Habitat: Cape of Good Hope.
(5)B. cornuta(fig. 38).—Nostrils opening upwards and outwards. Head covered with small, imbricate, strongly keeled scales; 2-5 raised scales, like horns, above each eye; 12-14 scales round the eye; 12-15 supralabials; 2-3 infralabials. Scales on the body keeled, in 25-29 rows; 120-152 ventrals; 18-36 subcaudals.
Colour grey or reddish-brown, with black spots, edged with white and arranged in 3 or 4 longitudinal series; a dark, oblique streak from the eye to the mouth; belly yellow or brown, uniform or spotted.
Total length, 510 millimetres; tail 35.
Fig. 38.—Bitis cornuta.(After Duméril and Bibron.)
Fig. 38.—Bitis cornuta.(After Duméril and Bibron.)
Habitat: Cape Colony, Namaqualand, Damaraland.
(6)B. caudalis.—Nostrils opening upwards and outwards. 12-16 scales from one eye to the other across the head; above each eye a single, erect, horn-like scale; 10-16 scales round the eye; 10-13 supralabials; 2-3 infralabials. Scales on the body in 22-29 rows, strongly keeled; 112-153 ventrals; 18-33 subcaudals.
Colour reddish or sandy-grey, with 2 series of brown spots with light centres, and frequently a vertebral series of narrow spots; belly dull yellow, uniform, or with small black spots on the sides.
Total length, 360 millimetres; tail 25.
Habitat: South-west Africa, from Angola to Namaqualand.
(7)B. gabonica(Gaboon Viper, or River Jack Viper).—Nostrils directed upwards and outwards. Head covered with small, moderately keeled scales, smallest on the vertex, 13-16 from eye to eye; 15-19 scales round the eye; a pair of erectile, triangular, nasal “horns,” consisting of sometimes tricuspid shields, between the supranasals; 13-16 supralabials; 4-5 infralabials. Scaleson the body in 33-41 rows, strongly keeled; lateral scales slightly oblique; 125-140 ventrals; 17-33 subcaudals.
This viper, which often attains a length of 1,200 millimetres, is brown, with a vertebral series of quadrangular, yellowish, or light brown spots connected by black markings; the belly is dull yellow, with small brown or blackish spots.
Habitat: Tropical Africa (West Africa, from Liberia to Damaraland; Zanzibar, Mozambique).
This species, which is nocturnal, is often met with on the Gaboon, and in the forests near the banks of the Ogowai. Its head is enormous, triangular in shape, and wider above; it has a bulky body, and a very short tail, terminating abruptly in a point.
The Gaboon Viper is a savage snake, with very active venom, and its poison-glands are of the size of large almonds. It lives in virgin forests, among dead wood and rocks. I have several times met with it in manioc plantations on the edge of the woods. In broad daylight it is sluggish, moves somewhat slowly, and never attacks man. It bites only when surprised.
Fig. 39.—Bitis nasicornis.(After Duméril and Bibron.)
Fig. 39.—Bitis nasicornis.(After Duméril and Bibron.)
(8)B. nasicornis(fig. 39).—Nostrils opening upwards and outwards. Head covered with small strongly keeled scales, smaller on the vertex, 14-16 from one eye to the other; 2 or 3 pairs of compressed, erectile, horn-like shields between the supranasals, usually separated in the middle by 1 or 2 series of small scales; 15-18 supralabials; 4-6 infralabials. Scales on the body in 35-41 rows, strongly keeled; 124-140 ventrals; 16-32 subcaudals.
Colour purple or reddish-brown above, with pale olive or darkbrown spots; a vertebral series of brown, black-edged spots, which assume a rhomboidal form; sides of head dark brown, with a triangular light mark in front of the eye, and an oblique light streak from behind the eye to the mouth; belly pale olive, spotted with black or yellow.
Total length, 1,250 millimetres; tail 125.
Habitat: West Africa, from Liberia to the Gaboon.
Head very distinct from the neck, covered with small juxtaposed or slightly imbricate scales; eyes small, with vertical pupils, separated from the lips by small scales; nostrils opening upwards and outwards. Body cylindrical; scales keeled, with apical pits, in 23-35 rows. Tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows.
(1)C. cornutus(fig. 40).—Snout very short and broad; two erectile horns above the eyes, which are separated by 15-21 scales and surrounded by 14-18; 4-5 series of scales between the eyes and the lips; 12-15 supralabials; 3 infralabials; scales on the body in 27-35 rows; 130-165 ventrals; 25-42 subcaudals.
Fig. 40.—Cerastes cornutus.(After Duméril and Bibron.)
Fig. 40.—Cerastes cornutus.(After Duméril and Bibron.)
Colour yellowish-brown or grey, with or without brown spots, forming 4-6 regular series, the two middle ones sometimes forming cross-bars; an oblique dark streak behind the eye; belly white; end of tail sometimes black.
Total length, 720 millimetres; tail 90.
Habitat: Northern border of the Sahara, Egypt, Nubia, Arabia, and Southern Palestine.
(2)C. vipera.—Snout very short and broad; head covered with small, tubercularly keeled scales, to the number of 9-13 from eye to eye; no “horns”; 9-14 scales round the eye; nostril betweentwo small shields, separated from their neighbours by 5-6 series of scales; 10-12 supralabials; 3 infralabials. Scales on the body in 23-27 rows; 102-122 ventrals, rather strongly keeled at the sides; 18-26 subcaudals. Colour dull yellow, pale brown or reddish, with or without black spots; end of tail often black above; ventral surface white.
Total length, 340 millimetres; tail 30.
Habitat: Northern border of the Sahara, from Algeria to Egypt.
The snakes belonging to this genus live constantly hidden in the sand, lying in wait for small birds, which alight beside them without suspicion, mistaking their horns for insects or larvæ; they also feed upon mice. Their poison-fangs are of relatively large size.
These small and exceedingly active vipers, whose colour harmonises marvellously with their surroundings, are very dangerous to the Arabs and blacks, who walk barefooted; they frequently cause fatal accidents.
They are able to exist for a very long time without drinking. They are attracted by the fires which are lighted at night round caravan encampments.
(1)E. carinatus(Efa, Viper of the Pyramids).—The same as met with in Persia, Arabia, and India. Very common in the environs of Cairo, and throughout Egypt and Abyssinia. It often makes its way into towns and villages. Brehm records that he more than once found anEfain his house at Khartoum, and that on one occasion he discovered one of these vipers coiled up beneath the covering of his bed. At another time, getting up in the night, he put his foot on one of these animals and was not bitten, the reptile being very fortunately just at that moment in the act of devouring a tame bird which it had seized.
It hardly ever happens that a native of Egypt can bringhimself to destroy anEfa, of which he has the greatest dread. If, as often occurs, he finds one of these reptiles in his house, he addresses himself to theHanior juggler, in order that, by his magic art, he may expel the dangerous visitor. From this custom the juggler evidently derives no small advantage, for, as is only right, he does not ply his craft for nothing. In many cases, indeed, the juggler releases a snake in a house, and then goes and informs the owner that he knows that a reptile is concealed in his dwelling, and that, in consideration of a stipulated reward, he will rid him of it (Brehm).
Fig. 41.—Echis coloratus.(After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Fig. 41.—Echis coloratus.(After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
(2)E. coloratus(fig. 41).—Scales on the snout and vertex convex, smooth or bluntly keeled, 13-15 from eye to eye; no supraocular shield; 17-22 scales round the eye; 12-15 supralabials; scales on the body in 31-35 rows; 174-205 ventrals; 42-52 subcaudals. No cruciform mark on the head.
Total length, 750 millimetres; tail 80.
Habitat: Palestine, Arabia, Socotra.
Head very distinct from neck, covered with imbricate scales; eyes large, with vertical pupils, usually separated from the labial shields by small scales; nostrils lateral. Body slightly compressed; scales keeled, with apical pits. Tail moderate,prehensile; subcaudal scales in a single row.
(1)A. chlorechis.—No supraciliary horn-like scales; 9-11 scales from eye to eye; 25-36 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 154-165 ventrals; 53-62 subcaudals.
Colour green, uniform or with small yellow spots; end of tail yellowish or blackish.
Total length, 520 millimetres; tail 85.
Habitat: West Africa, from Liberia to the Ogowai.
(2)A. squamiger.—No supraciliary horn-like scales; 7-8 scales from eye to eye; 15-25 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 153-173 ventrals; 51-95 subcaudals.
Colour olive, uniform or with more or less regular, narrow yellow cross-bands, or yellow with green spots; belly pale olive, marbled with black or yellow, or uniform yellow.
Total length, 550 millimetres; tail 100.
Habitat: West Africa, from the Cameroons to Angola.
(3)A. ceratophorus.—Several erect, supraciliary horn-like scales; 9-10 scales from eye to eye; 25 rows of scales in the middle of the body, strongly keeled; 142 ventrals; 55 subcaudals.
Colour dark olive, with black spots forming cross-bands; belly pale olive, speckled with black.
Total length, 210 millimetres; tail 65.
Habitat: East Africa.
This genus is characterised by enormous poison-fangs, a few teeth on the palatines, and none on the pterygoids. The mandible, which is edentulous in front, has only two or three small teeth inthe middle of the dentary bone. Head small, not distinct from the neck, covered with large symmetrical shields; nostril between two nasal shields; eyes minute, with round pupils; postfrontal bone absent. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 17-37 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail short; subcaudals in 1 or 2 rows.
(1)A. hildebrandtii.—Six supralabials; no præocular shields; frontal shorter than the parietals; scales on the body in 17 rows; ventrals 167-174.
Colour uniform dark brown.
Total length, 450 millimetres; tail 53.
Habitat: East Africa.
(2)A. congica.—Five supralabials, of which the fourth is the larger; postocular in contact with a large temporal; one præocular; frontal as long as or slightly shorter than the parietals. Scales on the body in 19-21 rows; 209-230 ventrals; 19-23 subcaudals.
Fig. 42.—Skull ofAtractaspis aterrima(African Viperine). (After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Fig. 42.—Skull ofAtractaspis aterrima(African Viperine). (After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Colour uniform dark brown or black.
Total length, 450 millimetres; tail 35.
Habitat: Congo, Angola.
(3)A. irregularis.—Characters as before, but scales on the body in 25-27 rows; 220-257 ventrals, subcaudals 22-28 pairs.
Colour uniform black or dark brown.
Total length, 560 millimetres; tail 35.
Habitat: West Africa, from the Gold Coast to the Congo; Central Africa.
(4)A. corpulenta.—Postocular shield in contact with a large temporal; second lower labial very large, fused with the chin-shields. Scales on the body in 23-27 rows; 178-193 ventrals; 23-27 subcaudals.
Colour uniform blackish-brown; tail sometimes white.
Total length, 345 millimetres; tail 33.
Habitat: West Africa, from Liberia to the Gaboon.
(5)A. rostrata.—Snout very prominent, cuneiform. Third lower labial very large; first lower labial in contact with its fellow, behind the symphysial. Scales on the body in 19-23 rows; ventrals 227-248.
Colour uniform dark brown, or blackish.
Total length, 600 millimetres; tail 37.
Habitat: East and Central Africa.
(6)A. bibronii.—Characters as before. Snout prominent, subcuneiform. Ventral scales, 221-260.
Colour dark purplish-brown above, dull yellow or pale brown on the belly.
Total length, 600 millimetres; tail 25.
Habitat: Eastern districts of Cape Colony, Natal, Namaqualand, Angola.
(7)A. aterrima.—Characters as before. Snout rounded; 251-300 ventral scales.
Colour uniform dark brown or black.
Total length, 650 millimetres; tail 30.
Habitat: West and Central Africa.
(8)A. dahomeyensis.—Characters as before. Symphysial shield in contact with the chin-shields. Scales on the body in 31 rows; 240 ventrals; 24 subcaudals.
Colour black above, brown on the belly.
Total length, 490 millimetres; tail 32.
Habitat: Dahomey.
(9)A. micropholis.—Temporal shields small, 2 + 3 or 4; fourth or fifth infralabial larger; scales on the body in 25 rows; 210-215 ventrals; 29-30 subcaudals. Frontal shield slightly longer than broad, much longer than the parietals.
Colour uniform dark brown.
Total length, 330 millimetres; tail 28.
Habitat: Cape Verd.
(10)A. leucomelas.—Characters as before. Frontal one and two-fifths as long as broad, as long as the parietals.
Colour black, with a vertebral white line, occupying one row and two half rows of scales; ventrals and subcaudals white; neck black, head white, with a black spot covering the nasals and upper head-shields.
Total length, 575 millimetres; tail 40.
Habitat: Somaliland.
(11)A. microlepidota.—Characters as before. Scales on the body in 29-37 rows; 212-245 ventrals; 26-37 subcaudals.
Colour uniform dark brown.
Total length, 540 millimetres; tail 45.
Habitat: Central and East Africa.
The Sunda Islands and the whole of Malaysia are rich in poisonous snakes. Those that are found there belong for the most part to species that we have already met with in India or the Malay Peninsula. We shall therefore not describe them again here.
All those that inhabit Australia are included in the great FamilyColubridæand the SubfamilyElapinæ. There are noViperidæ; but certain genera of poisonousColubridæare peculiar to this continent.
These reptiles have been particularly well studied by GérardKrefft, formerly Director of the Australian Museum at Sydney, from whose work5we shall borrow a considerable portion of the following notes, and the figures accompanying them.
The genera represented in Australia are:—
This genus is characterised by the maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, and bearing, in addition to the poison-fangs, 6-7 grooved teeth. The head is not distinct from the neck; the eyes are very small. The body is cylindrical, and covered with smooth scales in 17 rows. Tail short; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.
O. vitianus.—Snout elongate, pointed; 139-152 ventral scales; 27-38 subcaudals.
Colour dark brown, lighter on the sides; belly brown or white, more or less spotted with black; tail black.
Total length, 360 millimetres; tail 45.
Habitat: Fiji Islands.
Fig. 43.—Skull ofGlyphodon tristis(Australian Colubrine).(After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
Fig. 43.—Skull ofGlyphodon tristis(Australian Colubrine).(After G. A. Boulenger,op. cit.)
General characters the same; snout rounded; poison-fangs followed, after a wide interspace, by 6 small grooved teeth; anterior mandibular teeth strongly developed (fig. 43). Head andeyes small; pupils round or vertically subelliptic; nostrils pierced between 2 nasal shields. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 17 rows; tail short; subcaudals in 2 rows.
G. tristis.—Ventral scales 165-179; subcaudals 38-52.
Colour dark brown; occiput often yellowish, or pale reddish-brown; belly yellow.
Total length, 900 millimetres; tail 125.
Habitat: North-eastern Australia and South-eastern New Guinea.
Maxillaries extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, and, after a wide interval, 8-12 small grooved teeth. The anterior mandibular teeth are of large size, almost like fangs. Head hardly distinct from the neck; eyes small, with vertically elliptic pupils. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15-17 rows. Tail moderate or short; subcaudal scales in 2 rows.
(1)P. muelleri.—Scales in 15 rows. Nasal shield divided, in contact with the præocular; 2 + 2 temporals; 139-176 ventral scales; 21-35 subcaudals.
Colour brown, with a light vertebral line; a more or less distinct dark, light-edged streak on each side of the head, passing through the eye; belly yellowish or coral-red; uniform or spotted with black.
Total length, 500 millimetres; tail 70.
Habitat: Moluccas, New Guinea, New Britain.
(2)P. squamulosus.—Scales in 15 rows. Nasal shield divided, in contact with the præocular; 1 + 2 temporals; 170-183 ventrals; 34-52 subcaudals.
Colour brown, with a yellowish streak round the snout and through the eyes to the nape; belly whitish, with confluent black spots forming lines on each side.
Total length, 375 millimetres; tail 55.
Habitat: New South Wales.
(3)P. krefftii(fig. 44).—Nasal shield entire, in contact with the præocular; 1 + 2 temporals; 146-156 ventrals; 26-38 subcaudals.
Colour dark brown, with a light longitudinal line on each scale; a yellowish cross-band on the occiput, connected with another yellow band which encircles the snout.
Belly yellowish in front, black behind; subcaudals white, with a longitudinal black band running between them.
Fig. 44.—Pseudelaps krefftii.
Fig. 44.—Pseudelaps krefftii.
Fig. 45.—Pseudelaps harriettæ.
Fig. 45.—Pseudelaps harriettæ.
Fig. 46.—Pseudelaps diadema.
Fig. 46.—Pseudelaps diadema.
Total length, 255 millimetres; tail 33.
Habitat: Queensland.
(4)P. harriettæ(fig. 45).—Nasal shield entire, in contact with or narrowly separated from the præocular; 1 + 2 temporals; 176-193 ventrals; 29-35 subcaudals.
Colour dark brown, with a light longitudinal line on each scale; a long yellow blotch on the nape, and, connected with this, a yellow ring round the snout; ventrals and subcaudals brown or black, edged with white.
Total length, 415 millimetres; tail 45.
Habitat: Queensland.
(5)P. diadema(fig. 46).—Nasal shield entire, widely separated from the præocular; 2 + 2 temporals; third and fourth upper labials entering the eye; 164-203 ventrals; 40-62 subcaudals. Colour pale brown or reddish, with a brown edging to each scale forming a reticulate pattern; a yellow cross-band on the occiput; belly uniformly white.
Total length, 600 millimetres; tail 80.
Habitat: Eastern, Northern, and Western Australia.
(6)P. warro.—Characters the same as in the previous species; 143 ventrals. Colour brown; a broad lunate black collar on the nape; head black above, but paler than the collar.
Habitat: Port Curtis, Queensland.
(7)P. sutherlandi.—Characters as before. Scales on the body in 17 rows; 160 ventrals; 40 subcaudals. Colour red-brown on the back, yellow on the belly; a broad lunate black collar on the nape, with a lighter edging; light bars across the head, body, and tail.
Habitat: Norman River, Queensland.
Fig. 47.—Diemenia psammophis.
Fig. 47.—Diemenia psammophis.
Fig. 48.—Diemenia olivacea.(Northern Australia and New Guinea).(After Krefft.)
Fig. 48.—Diemenia olivacea.(Northern Australia and New Guinea).(After Krefft.)
Fig. 49.—Diemenia textilis.
Fig. 49.—Diemenia textilis.
Maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, followed, after an interspace, by 7-15 small grooved teeth; anterior mandibular teeth much elongated, resembling poison-fangs. Head scarcely distinct from the neck; eyes rather large, with round pupils; nasal shield entire or divided; frontal elongate.
Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15-19 rows (more on the neck). Tail moderate or long; subcaudals all or for the most part in 2 rows.
Coloration very variable, orange-yellow, olive, red-brown, or pale brown.
Average length, 1,000-1,700 millimetres.
Habitat: South-eastern New Guinea, and Australia.
Seven species of this genus are known, divided into two groups as follows:—
(1) Scales on the body in 15 rows.
D. psammophis.(fig. 47).—Internasal shields at least half as long as the præfrontals.
D. torquata.—Internasals more than half as long as the præfrontals.
D. olivacea.(fig. 48).—Internasals not more than half as long as the præfrontals; snout broad.
Fig.50.—Diemenia nuchalis.
Fig.50.—Diemenia nuchalis.
(2) Scales in 17 or 19 rows.
D. modesta.—154-165 ventrals.
D. textilis(Brown Snake,fig. 49).—190-232 ventrals.
D. nuchalis(fig. 50).—184-224 ventrals.
Maxillary bones extending forwards as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs followed by 2-5 small solid teeth; anterior mandibular teeth long. Head distinct from the neck; eyes rather small, with round pupils; nostril between two nasal shields. Body cylindrical. Scales smooth, in 17-23 rows (more on the neck). Tail moderate; subcaudals in 2 rows, or partly single, partly in 2 rows.
Fig. 51.—Pseudechis porphyriacus.
Fig. 51.—Pseudechis porphyriacus.
Total length, 1,500-2,000 millimetres, sometimes more.
Habitat: Australia and New Guinea.
This genus includes eight species.
(1)P. porphyriacus(Black Snake;fig. 51).—Frontal shield longer than broad; 180-200 ventrals; 50-60 subcaudals.
Colour black on the back; outer row of scales red at the base; ventrals red, edged with black.
(2)P. cupreus.—199-210 ventrals; 57-72 subcaudals.
Colour coppery above, brown or orange below, all the scales and shields edged with brown.
(3)P. australis.—199-220 ventrals; 57-70 subcaudals; frontal shield once and two-thirds to twice as long as broad.
Colour pale brown on the back, yellowish on the belly.
(4)P. darwiniensis.—Frontal as broad as long; 212 ventrals; 54-64 subcaudals.
Colour reddish-brown; head pale brown; belly yellowish-white.
(5)P. papuanus.—Scales in 19-21 rows (26 or 27 on the neck); 221-224 ventrals; 49-55 subcaudals.
Colour uniform black; chin white.
(6)P. scutellatus.—Subcaudal shields in 2 rows; scales on the body in 23 rows (25-30 on the neck); 230-233 ventrals; 61-78 subcaudals.
Colour pale brown or dark brown; snout and cheeks pale brown or yellowish; belly yellow.
(7)P. microlepidotus.—30-36 scales across the neck, 23 across the middle of the body; 232-237 ventrals; 61-66 pairs of subcaudals.
Colour dark brown on the back, yellowish-grey on the belly; head sometimes blackish.
(8)P. ferox.—Snout very broadly rounded. Scales on the body in 23 rows; 235 ventrals; 60 pairs of subcaudals.
Colour black above, yellowish beneath.
Maxillary bones prolonged as far as the palatines, with a pair of large grooved poison-fangs, followed by 3-5 small solid teeth;anterior mandibular teeth greatly developed. Head fairly distinct from the body; eyes small, with round or vertically elliptic pupils; nasal shield entire or divided. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15-19 rows; tail moderate or short; subcaudals in a single row, except in one species.
According to the British Museum Catalogue, the genusDenisoniaincludes twenty-one species, the principal characters of which are as follows:—