Regional Morphology

This is relevant for Elapids in Central and Southern Africa.

Morphological identification key

Elapidae

Is there a conspicuously enlarged rostral scale on the tip of the snout that projects beyond the other scales laterally (concave underneath)?	yes	Aspidelaps sp.


no

Is the preocular scale P (directly in front of and in contact with the eye) clearly separated by other scales from the nasal scale N (scale on which the nostril is located)?	yes	Dendroaspis sp.


no

Is the anal plate A (under which the cloaca is located) divided?	yes	Homoroselaps sp.


no

Are the dorsal scales (scales on the top and sides of the body) keeled?	yes	Hemachatus haemachatus


no

How many subcaudal scales (underneath the tail, from behind the anal plate A, which covers the cloaca, to the tip of the tail) are present? Scales divided down the middle count as a single scale!	fewer than 20	Elapsoidea sp.


30 or more

Count the dorsal scales approximately midway down the body. How many are present?	13–15	Pseudohaje sp.

	15–17	Naja multifasciata (former Paranja mulifasciata)



	17 or more	Naja sp. (incl. former genus Boulengerina)