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dietary precursors. The function/products of the dorsal-nuchal glands of M. plumbicolor are
unknown (see Figure 4.2 ).
(B) Orange-necked keel-back ( Macropisthodon flaviceps ), Pangkalan, Bun Tanjung
Putting National Park, Central Kalimantan. This species is found in Southeast Asia, and
little is known of its natural history.
(C) Close-up of enlarged posterior maxillary teeth of the red keel-back or false habu
( Macropisthodon rudis ), Fukien, Chungan Hsien, China. Macropisthodon were of
particular interest to Malcolm Smith (1875-1958), the physician-herpetologist who served
as physician to the Royal Court of Siam, and was the founding president of the British
Herpetological Society. His contributions notably increased knowledge of the Malaysian
herpetofauna as well as that of Southeast Asia at large. Smith questioned the ability of these
snakes to employ their enlarged teeth due to their seemingly disproportionate size. As noted
previously, tooth size alone should not be considered a marker of potential hazard (e.g., see
Plates 2.11A and B, and pp. 20-21). The potential hazards posed by any species must be
considered in relation to their oral secretion properties, prey specificity of toxins, if any, and
the associated delivery apparatus.
Plate 4.31A, photo copyright to David A. Warrell; Plate 4.31B, photo copyright to Peter Ellen;
Plate 4.31C, AMNH specimen #34513, photo copyright to Arie Lev.
Plate 4.32 Malagasy cat-eyed or night snake ( Madagascarophis meridonalis ). The
genus Madagascarophis contains four species of little-known, nocturnal pseudoxyrhophiine
lamprophiid snakes that are widespread on Madagascar, and often occur close to human
domiciles. Recent taxonomic study has identified at least six clades (and perhaps an additional
species) of Madagascarophis (Nagy et al., 2007). There are two documented bites by
M. meridonalis that included only minor local effects. Photo copyright to Maik Dobiey.
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