Communautés antigéniques des venins et systématique des Elapinae

A study, by immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion of the shared antigens in venoms from 15 genera and 29 species of Old World Elapinae, tested with 9 reference immune sera, yielded a number of results of phylogenetic and systematic significance: 1. The genus Dendroaspis differs markedly from all the other Elapinae. 2. The Australian Elapinae do not constitute an homogeneous group: many genera possess numerous shared antigens with Bungarus and to a lesser extent with Naja, whereas Oxyuranus, Parademansia and Pseudonaja have very weak cross-reactivity with other Elapinae. 3. The African Naja differ to some extent from the Asiatic ones. The latter are homogeneous and seem to belong to a single species, Naja naja.