Viperidæ, on the other hand, are extremely numerous, and belong exclusively to the subfamily Crotalinæ; there are no Viperinæ.
I.—COLUBRIDÆ.
(a) Elaps.
([Fig. 65].)
Fig. 65.—Skull of Elaps marcgravii. (After G. A. Boulenger, op. cit.)
The characters of this genus are: Maxillary bones very short, extending beyond the palatines, and bearing a pair of large poison-fangs; pterygoid teeth few or absent; mandibular teeth all of equal length. No postfrontal bones; præfrontals meeting, or narrowly separated on the median line. Head small, not distinct from neck; eyes small, with vertically elliptic or sub-elliptic pupils; nostril between two nasal shields. Body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 15 rows. Tail short; subcaudal scales in 2 rows, or partly single, partly in 2 rows.
(1) E. surinamensis.—Seven supralabials, of which the fourth enters the eye; frontal shield very narrow; 167-182 ventrals.
Colour red, with black annuli disposed in threes (the middle one broader), separated by narrow yellow interspaces; 7 or 8 sets of annuli on the body; the red scales dotted with black; head red above, with the shields black-edged, followed by a black cross-band behind the parietals.
Total length, 740 millimetres; tail 95. Grows to 1,900 millimetres.