| Colubridae Temporal range: Oligocene to Recent |
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|---|---|
| Caspian whipsnake, Coluber caspius | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae Oppel, 1811 |
A colubrid (from Latin coluber, snake) is a member of the snake family Colubridae. This broad classification of snakes includes about two-thirds of all snake species on earth. The earliest species of the snake family date back to the Oligocene epoch. With 304 genera and 1,938 species, Colubridae is the largest snake family. Colubrid species are found on every continent except Antarctica.[1]
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While most colubrids are nonvenomous (or have venom that is not known to be harmful to humans) and are mostly harmless, a few groups, such as genus Boiga, can produce medically significant bites, while the boomslang, the twig snakes and the Asian genus Rhabdophis have caused human fatalities.[1][2]
Some of the colubrids are described as opisthoglyphous, meaning they have elongated, grooved teeth located in the back of the upper jaw. The opisthoglyphous dentition appears at least two times in the history of snakes.[2] These are unlike those of vipers and elapids, which are located in the front.[1][2]
The Colubridae are not a natural group, as many are more closely related to other groups, such as elapids, than to each other.[3] This family has classically been a garbage bin taxon for snakes that do not fit elsewhere.[4] Ongoing research, hopefully, will sort out the relations within this group.
Subfamily Boodontinae
Subfamily Calamariinae
Subfamily Colubrinae - nearly 100 genera
Subfamily Dipsadinae
Subfamily Homalopsinae - about 10 genera
Subfamily Natricinae - about 30 genera
Subfamily Pareatinae - three genera
Subfamily Psammophiinae
Subfamily Pseudoxenodontinae
Subfamily Pseudoxyrhophiinae - about 20 genera
Subfamily Xenodermatinae
Subfamily Xenodontinae - some 55-60 genera
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