Colubriform i a

Sub-order of Ophidia, including harmle snakes, characterized by solid, recurved teeth in both jaws and on the palatines and pterygoids. In a few ( Opisthoglypha ) genera the posterior, mandibular teeth are grooved and connected with poison glands, glands, but the bite is not dangerous. angerous. Examples are: Uropeltide, with short pointed pointed head, head, and non distensible mouth, mainly in the E. Indian region; Tortricidæ , tropical snakes, with short tails, burrowing in the sand, eating insects, and having rudiments of hind limbs (anal claws); Erycide , Sand Snakes, also tropical, with pelvic rudiments, feeding mainly on mice; and the Coronel lidæ , represented by the Puff Adder or Hognose, which flattens itself threateningly, but is harmle . The Rachiodontide of Africa are remarkable in having almost no teeth in the jaws, but the ventral proce es of some of the cervical vertebræ project as teeth into the œsophagus. These snakes live on eggs, which are cut open in the gullet, the contents swallowed, and the shell rejected. The Ach roch or did a , Wart Snakes, with tuberculate scales, are viviparous. For the tropical members of this group see COLUBRIDÆ. Other colubriform snakes are the Pythons and Boas (see PEROPODA), various families of TREE SNAKES (q.v.) ( Dendrophidæ , Dryophidæ , Dips a did a ) and WATER SNAKES (q.v.) ( Natricida , Homalopsida ) .