Abstract
Seven species of semi venomous Opisthoglypha snakes (Reptilia, Ophidia) of Iraq are listed with important characteristics in morphology due to geographical and individual variation of species, as well, the confusion in the scales count of Telescopus tessellatus martini (Schmidt, 1939) of Iraq are discussed.
Highlights
The mild poisonous snakes of Iraq have one or two pairs of posterior maxillary teeth, which are grooved, larger than the others, connected to the venom gland by a duct (Corkill, 1932; Latifi, 1991; Leviton et al, 1992; Amr and Disi, 2011), they agreed that there are no records for death by these opisthoglyphous snakes among humans because of the location of the venom teeth and of the mild composition of the poison
According to Latifi (1991) only three genera of colubrid snakes belong to opisthoglyphous; the distinction between venomous and nonvenomous snakes is not clear-cut because the saliva of many snakes is toxic for the snake's prey and sometime for humans (Leviton et al, 1992)
Distribution: it is wide-ranging snake, but it is most abundant in dry arid regions (Rhadi et al, 2017); it has a wide distribution in all Iraq; and found in Shaiba, Basrah province (Boulenger, 1920); near the river Shatt al Arab District in a Tannumah town, eastern of AL- Basrah province, Wasit province and Al-Diwaniyah province (Rhadi et al, 2017)
Summary
The mild poisonous snakes of Iraq have one or two pairs of posterior maxillary teeth, which are grooved, larger than the others, connected to the venom gland by a duct (Corkill, 1932; Latifi, 1991; Leviton et al, 1992; Amr and Disi, 2011), they agreed that there are no records for death by these opisthoglyphous snakes among humans because of the location of the venom teeth and of the mild composition of the poison. Amr and Disi (2011) believed that even those colubrid snakes which had been registered as not poisonous snakes, have a poison in their saliva and cause the same symptoms and pain. According to Latifi (1991) only three genera of colubrid snakes belong to opisthoglyphous; the distinction between venomous and nonvenomous snakes is not clear-cut because the saliva of many snakes is toxic for the snake's prey and sometime for humans (Leviton et al, 1992). Amr and Disi (2011) believed that even those colubrid snakes which had been registered as not poisonous snakes, have a poison in their saliva and cause the same symptoms and pain.
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