Zool. [ad. L. ammodytes, a. Gr. ἀμμοδύτης a sand-burrower; f. ἄμμος sand + δύτης diver, f. δύ-ειν to dive.]
† 1. A venomous snake, the Sand-Natter, a species of Viper found in Southern Europe. Obs.
1607. Topsell, Serpents (1653), 763. By the same means that the poyson of the Viper, the Ammodyte and Horned-serpent is cured withal.
1627. May, Lucan, IX. 822. Sand-colour’d Ammodytes, the horned snakes.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., IV. 131. The Surinam serpent, which some improperly call the ammodytes.
2. The Sand-eel, Ammodytes of modern zoologists.
1698. Sibbald, in Phil. Trans., XX. 266. The Women that catched the Sand Eels (Ammodites).
1752. Sir J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 225 (Jod.). Ammodytes. the Sand-Eel, or Grig.
1847. Carpenter, Zool., § 577. The Ammodytes or Launces are remarkable for their habit of burrowing in the sand.
