Colubrid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colubrids |
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| Caspian whipsnake Coluber (Dolichophis) caspius |
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Colubridae
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A colubrid (from Latin coluber, snake) is a snake that is a member of the Colubridae "family". Colubridae is the largest snake family, and includes about two-thirds of all known living snake species. However, The Colubrids are certainly not a natural group, and many are more closely related to other groups, such as elapids, than to each other. This family has classically been a dumping ground for snakes that do not fit anywhere else. There is on-going mitochondrial DNA research which will sort out the familial relations within this group.
A colubrid's body is almost completely covered in scales. Most colubrids are not venomous and are normally harmless. A few groups, such as genus Boiga, can produce medically significant bites. In addition, the Boomslang and African twig snake have both caused human fatalities. The venom-injecting fangs associated with venomous colubrids are almost always in the back of the mouth, in contrast to vipers and elapids.
Selected species
- Boomslang
- Brown tree snake
- Dice snake
- Garter snake
- Kingsnake
- Rat snake
- Smooth snake
- Water snake
- Mussurana
Images for kids
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Two Indian rat snakes (grey and yellow)
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A dipsadine, Sibon longifrenis
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A colubrine, Dolichophis jugularis, preying on a legless lizard, a scheltopusik
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See also
In Spanish: Colubridae para niños
