Regional Morphology
This is relevant for Elapids in Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Morphological identification key
| Elapidae | ||||
| Are the scales over the spine enlarged and hexagonal? |
yes (but not in Bungarus lividus!) |
Bungarus sp. | ||
| no | ||||
| Observe the shape of the head. Is the transition between the top and the sides of the head where the eyes and nose are located: | ||||
|
a) angular? (stout head) |
b) rounded? (delicate head) |
b | ||
| a | ||||
| Are the paired scales behind the parietal scales P: | ||||
|
a) large? |
b) small? |
a
|
Ophiophagus hannah | |
| b | Naja sp. | |||