The Poisonous Snakes of India/PLATURUS FISCHERI
(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)
PLATURUS FISCHERI.
Günther describes this species as follows:-
“No azygos shield between the posterior frontals, scales of the front part of the trunk in nineteen longitudinal series; ventral shields 232-241. Trunk surrounded by from thirty-three to thirty-six black rings, which are broader than the interspaces. A black band crosses the occiput and extends forward over the vertical plate and over the lower jaw, but, generally, it is not confluent with the next following ring. The upper part of tho snout yellow; upper labials black."
Dr. John Anderson, the distinguished Director of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, furnished Sir Joseph Fayrer with the following description of what he considered to be a specimen of P. Fischeri in the Museum:-
“The specimen which I provisionally refer to this species has nineteen rows of smooth scales round the fore part of the trunk, in longitudinal series, and 235 ventrals. There is no azygos shield between the posterior frontals, and in all of these characters it agrees with this species. But on comparing the head with Gunther's drawing, I find that the anterior frontals in my specimen differ from it, in being long and pointed anteriorly, and considerably larger than the posterior pair, and in the vertical being proportionally larger than in P. Fischeri, and the occipitals larger and more pointed. It has one præ-, and two post-oculars, and the third and fourth labials are below the eye. Two pairs of large chin-shields, the posterior shields with a large scale between their posterior extremities. It also differs from P. Fischeri in having fifty-six black rings round the trunk instead of thirty-six, but I do not attach much importance to this, as P. sculatus shows about an equal variation; but at the same time, Günther's statement that his eight specimens show the same assemblage of characters as laid down in his description, and the occurrence of fifty-six rings in my specimen, suggest that their multiplicity is either due to greater age (it measures forty-nine inches in length) or to variation. The head too is wholly black, with the exception of a yellow band from the posterior margin of one eye to the other. The upper surface is olive green, and the sides and belly rich dark gamboge yellow, and the fifty-six rings are intensely bluish-black, and the scales generally have a very bright shining lustre. It was from Tolly's Nullah, a tidal stream near Calcutta. The largest of Günther's eight specimens measured thirty inches."