| Ophidia | ‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, dim. of 'o`fis a snake. ] (Zool.) The suborder of reptiles which includes the serpents; called also Serpentes. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ] ☞ 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 ] |