sb. pl. Zool. [f. thanat-, THANATO- + OPHIDIA.] A division of Ophidia, comprising the venomous snakes. Hence Thanatophidian a., of or pertaining to the Thanatophidia; sb. a serpent of this division; Thanatophidiologist, a student of the zoology of the Thanatophidia.
1872. Fayrer (title), The Thanatophidia of India, being a Description of the Venomous Snakes of the Indian Peninsula.
1884. J. Donnet, in Nature, 27 March, 504/1. I believe it to be a generally accepted opinion among thanatophidiologists that, from what is known of the virulent properties of snake-poison, though fatal to man and other living beings, it is innoxious in its effects to serpents of like nature.
1891. Cent. Dict., Thanatophidian a. and sb.
