| 释义 |
opisthoglyph, n. (a.) Zool.|əʊˈpɪsθəʊglɪf|
[a. F. opisthoglyphe, mod.L. Opisthoglypha (A. H. A. Dumeril 1853, in Mém. Acad. Sci. XXIII. 412) f. opistho- + Gr. γλυϕή carving.]
A snake belonging to a group characterized by grooves in the upper back teeth. Also attrib. or as adj. So opisthoˈglyphic, opisˈthoglyphous adjs.
1895Athenæum 7 Dec. 795/3 In the opisthoglyphous snakes the poison-gland is very variable. Ibid., Opisthoglyphic. 1896Proc. Zool. Soc. 615 The grooved teeth in the Opisthoglyphs vary in number from one to three. 1923Nature 14 Apr. 579/1 A comparative study of the buccal glands and teeth of opisthoglyph snakes, and a discussion of the evolution of the order from Aglypha. 1965R. & D. Morris Men & Snakes viii. 177 The aglyphs and the opisthoglyphs do not release their prey, once they have bitten it. 1968R. D. Martin tr. Wickler's Mimicry in Plants & Animals xii. 112 The fangs may possess a groove that connects with the outlet of a poison gland. If the hind teeth in the upper jaws are grooved, they are called opisthoglyph. Snakes with grooved hind teeth are weakly to moderately poisonous. 1969A. Bellairs Life of Reptiles I. v. 186 Each of the big teeth generally has a groove down its anterior face for carrying the venom into the prey. Snakes showing this condition are called ‘back-fanged’ or opisthoglyphous. |