ˌdasəˈpeltəˌdē noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Dasypeltis, type genus (from dasy- + Greek peltē small shield) + -idae — more at pelta
: an African family of egg-eating snakes containing a single species ( Dasypeltis scaber ) having the hypapophyses of the cervical vertebra extending into the esophagus where they form a rasp used in breaking eggshells — see elachistodontidae