A
colubrid (from Latin
coluber, snake) is a
snakeSnakes are elongate legless carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
that is a member of the
familyIn biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus...
Colubridae. It is a broad classification of snakes that includes about two thirds of all
snakeSnakes are elongate legless carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
species on earth. Colubrid species are found on every continent, except
Antarctica| style="border-top:solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding:0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align:top;" | 14,000,000 km
2 280,000 km
2 13,720,000 km
2 |-! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top;...
.
While most colubrids are non-venomous (or have venom that isn't known to be harmful to humans) and are normally harmless, a few groups, such as genus
BoigaBoiga is a large genus of mildly venomous, rear-fanged, colubrid snakes typically known as the cat-eyed snakes or just cat snakes. They are primarily found throughout southeast Asia, India and Australia, but due to their extremely hardy nature and adaptability have spread to many other suitable...
, can produce medically significant bites, while the
boomslangA boomslang is a relatively small, venomous colubrid snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is currently the only species in its genus, although several species and subspecies have been described in the past. Its name means "tree snake" in Afrikaans and Dutch . In Afrikaans the name is pronounced...
and the
twig snakeThe Twig or Bird Snakes of the genus Thelotornis are a group of back-fanged colubrid snakes in the family Colubridae. All species have a slender and elongated profile, a long tail, narrow head and pointed snout. The eyes each species have horizontal pupils, shaped like keyholes, which gives Twig...
s have caused human fatalities.
Some colubrids are described as opisthoglyphous, meaning that they have elongated, grooved teeth, located in the back of the upper jaw.
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A
colubrid (from Latin
coluber, snake) is a
snakeSnakes are elongate legless carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
that is a member of the
familyIn biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus...
Colubridae. It is a broad classification of snakes that includes about two thirds of all
snakeSnakes are elongate legless carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
species on earth. Colubrid species are found on every continent, except
Antarctica| style="border-top:solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding:0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align:top;" | 14,000,000 km
2 280,000 km
2 13,720,000 km
2 |-! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top;...
.
Description
While most colubrids are non-venomous (or have venom that isn't known to be harmful to humans) and are normally harmless, a few groups, such as genus
BoigaBoiga is a large genus of mildly venomous, rear-fanged, colubrid snakes typically known as the cat-eyed snakes or just cat snakes. They are primarily found throughout southeast Asia, India and Australia, but due to their extremely hardy nature and adaptability have spread to many other suitable...
, can produce medically significant bites, while the
boomslangA boomslang is a relatively small, venomous colubrid snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is currently the only species in its genus, although several species and subspecies have been described in the past. Its name means "tree snake" in Afrikaans and Dutch . In Afrikaans the name is pronounced...
and the
twig snakeThe Twig or Bird Snakes of the genus Thelotornis are a group of back-fanged colubrid snakes in the family Colubridae. All species have a slender and elongated profile, a long tail, narrow head and pointed snout. The eyes each species have horizontal pupils, shaped like keyholes, which gives Twig...
s have caused human fatalities.
Some colubrids are described as opisthoglyphous, meaning that they have elongated, grooved teeth, located in the back of the upper jaw. These are unlike those of
vipersThe Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes found all over the world, except in Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Madagascar, Hawaii and the Arctic Circle. All have relatively long hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom...
and elapids that are located in the front.
Classification
The Colubridae are not a
natural groupIn common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it consists of an ancestor and all its descendants. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly...
, as many are more closely related to other groups, such as
elapidsThe Elapidae, or elapids, are a family of venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Elapid comes from the Greek éllops meaning sea-fish...
, than to each other. This family has classically been a garbage bin taxon for snakes that don't fit anywhere else. It is hoped that ongoing research will sort out the relations within this group.
Subfamily Boodontinae
- Bothrolycus
Bothrolycus is a genus of colubrid snakes that contains only a single species: Günther's Black Snake ....
- Bothrophthalmus
Bothrophthalmus is a genus of colubrid snakes containing a single species, Bothrophthalmus lineatus, more commonly known as the Red-Black Striped Snake. There are two recognized subspecies:*Bothrophthalmus lineatus brunneus...
- Buhoma (tentatively placed here)
- Chamaelycus
Chamaelycus is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as banded snakes.
There are 4 commonly accepted species in the genus Chamaelycus:
*Christy's Banded Snake - Chamaelycus christyi...
- Dendrolycus
Dendrolycus is a genus of colubrid snake which contains one species - the Cameroon Rainforest Snake ....
- Dipsina
Dipsina is a genus of colubrid snake that contains one species: the Dwarf Beaked Snake, also known as the Western Beaked Snake - Dipsina multimaculata...
- Dromophis
Dromophis is a genus of colubrid snakes. There are two commonly accepted species in the genus Dromophis:*Lined Olympic Snake - Dromophis lineatus*Striped Swamp Snake - Dromophis praeornatus....
- Duberria (tentatively placed here)
- Gonionotophis
Gonionotophis is a genus of colubrid snakes also known as the African Ground Snakes. There are 3 commonly accepted species in the genus:* Mocquard's African Ground Snake - Gonionotophis brussauxi* Gonionotophis grantii...
- Grayia
- Hormonotus
Hormonotus is a genus of colubrid snakes. There is only one commonly accepted species in the genus: Uganda House Snake...
- Lamprophis
Lamprophis is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as African house snakes. They are small, non-venomous snakes, usually brown in color but display a range of variation from red, orange, green to black. They also exhibit a wide variety of pattern variation even within single species, and...
- Lycodonomorphus
- Lycophidion
Lycophidion is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as the Wolf snakes.The genus contains the following species:*Lycophidion meleagris*Lycophidion acutirostre*Lycophidion laterale*Lycophidion semiannulis...
- Macroprotodon
Macroprotodon is a genus of snake in the Colubridae family.It contains the following species:* Macroprotodon abubakeri* False Smooth Snake...
- Mehelya
- Montaspis (tentatively placed here)
- Pseudaspis
- Pseudoboodon
- Pythonodipsas
- Scaphiophis
Subfamily Calamariinae
- Calamaria
Calamaria is a genus of snakes of family Colubridae. The species Calamaria pavimentata is found in Asia....
- Calamorhabdium
- Collorhabdium
- Etheridgeum
- Macrocalamus
- Pseudorabdion
- Rabdion
Subfamily ColubrinaeColubrinae is a subfamily of the Colubridae family of snakes. It includes numerous genera, and taxonomic sources often disagree on the exact number...
- nearly 100 genera
Subfamily Dipsadinae
- Adelphicos
The genus Adelphicos consists of ten species of Burrowing Snake. These snakes can be found in the Central American continent, mostly in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala...
- Amastridium
- Atractus
- Calamodontophis
Calamodontophis is a genus of snake in the Colubridae family.It contains the following species:* Calamodontophis paucidens* Calamodontophis sp. nov....
(tentatively placed here)
- Carphophis
Carphophis is a genus of small colubrid snakes. The genus consists of two species, which are divided into the eastern and western types. They are found only in the eastern half of the United States.- Physical description :...
(tentatively placed here)
- Chersodromus
- Coniophanes
Coniophanes is a large genus of colubrid snakes, typically referred to as black-striped snakes, but they also go by many other common names. The genus consists of 13 species, and despite the common name, not all of them display striping...
- Contia (tentatively placed here)
- Crisantophis (tentatively placed here)
- Cryophis
- Diadophis (tentatively placed here)
- Diaphorolepsis (tentatively placed here)
- Dipsas
- Echinanthera (tentatively placed here)
- Emmochliophis (tentatively placed here)
- Enuliophis (tentatively placed here)
- Enulius (tentatively placed here)
- Eridiphas
- Geophis
- Gomesophis (tentatively placed here)
- Hydromorphus (tentatively placed here)
- Hypsiglena
Hypsiglena is a genus of small, rear-fanged, colubrid snakes commonly referred to as night snakes. The genus consists of two distinct species, many subspecies may be considered synonymous depending on the source.- Species :...
- Imantodes
- Leptodeira
Leptodeira is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as cat-eyed snakes. The genus consists of 9 species that are native to primarily Mexico and Central America, but range as far north as the United States into the southern tip of the state of Texas, and as far south as South America, to...
- Ninia
- Nothopsis (tentatively placed here)
- Pliocercus
- Pseudoleptodeira
- Pseudotomodon (tentatively placed here)
- Ptychophis (tentatively placed here)
- Rhadinaea
- Rhadinophanes (tentatively placed here)
- Sibon
- Sibynomorphus
- Synophis (tentatively placed here)
- Tachymenis
Tachymenis is a genus of venomous snakes belonging to the family Colubridae. They are commonly known as slender snakes or short-tailed snakes and are primarily found in southern South America. Tachymenis are capable of producing a medically significant bite, with at least one species, T...
(tentatively placed here)
- Taeniophallus (tentatively placed here)
- Tantalophis (tentatively placed here)
- Thamnodynastes (tentatively placed here)
- Tomodon
Tomodon is a genus of colubrid snakes. Two species are currently recognized.* Tomodon dorsatus - Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854 * Tomodon ocellatus - Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854...
(tentatively placed here)
- Tretanorhinus
- Trimetopon
- Tropidodipsas
- Urotheca
- Xenopholis (tentatively placed here)
Subfamily HomalopsinaeHomalopsinae is a sub-family of Colubridae which contains some 10 genera and about 4 dozen species. They are typically stout-bodied water snakes, and all are mildly venomous. The genus Brachyorrhos may belong elsewhere...
- about 10 genera
Subfamily NatricinaeNatricinae is a subfamily of the colubrid family of snakes which contains 28 genera. Members of this subfamily include many very common snake species, such as the European Grass Snakes, and the North American Water Snakes.- Genera :...
- about 30 genera
Subfamily PareatinaePareatinae is a small subfamily of the Colubridae family of snakes. It encompasses a mere 3 genera, which include snakes that eat snails....
- 3 genera
Subfamily Psammophiinae
- Hemirhagerrhis
- Malpolon
- Mimophis
- Psammophis
Psammophis is a genus of colubrid snakes.-Description:Maxillary teeth 10 to 13, one or two in the middle much enlarged and fang-like, preceded and followed by an interspace, the two posterior grooved. Anterior mandibular teeth long, posterior small. Head elongate and distinct from neck, with...
- Psammophylax
- Rhamphiophis
Subfamily Pseudoxenodontinae
- Plagiopholis
- Pseudoxenodon
Subfamily PseudoxyrhophiinaePseudoxyrhophiinae is a subfamily of colubrid snakes.It contains about 20 genera:* Alluaudina* Bibilava * Brygophis* Compsophis* Ditypophis* Dromicodryas* Exallodontophis...
- about 20 genera
Subfamily Xenodermatinae
- Achalinus
Achalinus is a genus of harmless colubrid colubrid snakes found in Japan, Taiwan, China and northern Vietnam. Nine species are currently recognized.-Species:*) Not including the nominate subspecies....
- Fimbrios
- Oxyrhabdium
- Stoliczkaia
- Xenodermus
Xenodermus is a genus of colubrid snakes. It is a monotypic genus, containing only Xenodermus javanicus....
- Xylophis
Subfamily XenodontinaeXenodontinae is a subfamily of the Colubridae family of snakes. It encompasses a number of genera, which includes animals such as mud snakes and New World hognose snakes.- Genera :Other genera are often placed here but may actually belong elsewhere:...
- some 55-60 genera
incertae sedisIncertae sedis , abbreviated "inc. sed.", is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined.-Examples:The taxonomy for humans is usually recognized as follows:...
- Blythia
- Cercaspis
- Cyclocorus
- Elapoidis
- Gongylosoma
- Haplocercus
- Helophis
- Myersophis
- Omoadiphas (recently discovered)
- Oreocalamus
- Poecilopholis
Poecilopholis is a monotypic genus created for the venomous snake species, P. cameronensis, found in Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized....
- Rhabdops
- Tetralepis
- Thermophis
Thermophis is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae which includes two species: Thermophis baileyi and Thermophis zhaoermii....
- Trachischium
Trachischium is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly known as Worm-eating Snakes. There are five species in the genus that are found through montane regions of the countries of Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China.- Species :...