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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.

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.