opoterodonta

2 definitions found

opoterodonta - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Opoterodonta \Opoterodonta\, prop. n. pl.
     An older division of the suborder Ophidia of serpents; it
     includes those snakes in which the mouth is not dilatable.
     [PJC]

  Ophidia \O*phid"i*a\, prop. n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, dim. of
     'o`fis a snake.] (Zool.)
     The suborder of reptiles which includes the serpents; called
     also {Serpentes}.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: The most important divisions are: the Solenoglypha,
           having erectile perforated fangs, as the rattlesnake;
           the Proteroglypha, or elapine serpents, having
           permanently erect fang, as the cobra; the Asinea, or
           colubrine serpents, which are destitute of fangs; and
           the Opoterodonta, or Epanodonta, blindworms, in
           which the mouth is not dilatable.
           [1913 Webster]