Word Study
ophidia
CIDE DICTIONARY
ophidia, prop. n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. , dim. of 'o`fis a snake.].
The suborder of reptiles which includes the serpents; called also Serpentes . [1913 Webster]
" 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]
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