Fig. 48.—Diemenia olivacea. (Northern Australia and New Guinea).
(After Krefft.)
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.