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Elapidae

(Family)

Overview

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A Family in the Kingdom Animalia.

Taxonomy

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The Family Elapidae is a member of the Superfamily Colubroidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Elapidae:

The Family Elapidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Alecto

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Amadrias

Aspidelaps

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Boulengerina

Boulengerina is a of elapid snakes known commonly as water cobras, so named because of their semi-aquatic nature. The genus has two recognized species, which are found in central and southern Africa. Some recent molecular studies have suggested that the genus Boulengerina should be synonymised with Naja, because the water cobras are closely related to some species of Naja [more]

Brachyurophis

[more]

Bungarus

Bungarus is a of venomous elapid snakes found in South and South-East Asia. Commonly referred to as kraits, there are 12 species and 5 subspecies. [more]

Calliophis

Calliophis is a of venomous elapid snakes known commonly as oriental coral snakes or Asian coral snakes. [more]

Callophis

[more]

Cryptophis

[more]

Dendraspis

Dendroaspis


[more]

Diemenia

[more]

Dinophis

Elaps

[more]

Elapsoidea

Elapsoidea is a of venomous elapid snake commonly known as venomous garter snakes or African garter snakes. Despite the name, they are unrelated to the harmless North American garter snake species. [more]

Haemachatus

[more]

Hemachatus

The Rinkhals also called the Ringhals or Ring-necked (Hemachatus haemachatus) is a venomous elapid species found in parts of southern Africa. It is one of a group of cobras that has developed the ability to spit venom as a defense mechanism. [more]

Hemibungarus

Hemibungarus is a of venomous elapid snakes known commonly as Asian coral snakes or oriental coral snakes. [more]

Maticora

[more]

Micruroides

The coral snakes are a large group of snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups: New World coral snakes and Old World Calliophis snakes. There are three genera among New World coral snakes that consist of over 65 recognized species. [more]

Micrurus

The coral snakes are a large group of snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups: New World coral snakes and Old World Calliophis snakes. There are three genera among New World coral snakes that consist of over 65 recognized species. [more]

Naia

[more]

Naja

Naja is a of venomous elapid snakes. Although there are several other genera that share the common name, naja are the most recognized, and most widespread group of snakes commonly known as cobras. The genus Naja consists of from 20 to 22 species, but has undergone several taxonomic revisions in recent years, so sources vary greatly. They range throughout Africa, the Middle-East, India, southeastern Asia, and Indonesia. [more]

Ophiophagus

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world's longest snake, with a length that can be as large as 6.7 m (22 ft). This species is widespread throughout Southeast Asia and parts of India, but found mostly in forested areas. Its genus name, Ophiophagus, literally means "snake-eater", and its diet primarily consists of other snakes, including sizeable pythons and even smaller members of its own species. The venom of the King Cobra is primarily neurotoxic, and the snake is fully capable of killing a human with a single bite. The mortality rate from a bite can be as high as 75%. [more]

Paranaja

Paranaja multifasciata is a of venomous elapid snake commonly known as the Many-banded Snake or Burrowing Cobra, the only species within the genus Paranaja. The species is found in the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon in Africa. Despite the common name, the species is not actually banded, but overall iridescent black, with cream colored blotching on each scale. The snakes grow to approximately 600 mm in length. Not much is known about their venom, but it is likely a neurotoxin, like many other elapid snakes. The genus Paranaja was synonymised with Naja in a recent molecular phylogenetic study, as this species is closely related to the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) [more]

Pseudoelaps

[more]

Pseudohaje

[more]

Sinomicrurus

Tomyris

Walterinnesia

Walterinnesia aegyptia is a of venomous elapid snake, also known as the Desert Black Snake or Desert Cobra. It was long considered the only species within the genus Walterinnesia. However, it was recently found that the eastern populations actually represent a different species, W. morgani. They are native to arid and scrubland habitats of the Middle East. Walterinnesia aegyptia is found in the countries of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, northwestern Saudi Arabia and probably Syria, whereas W. morgani occurs in Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, southern Turkey and eastern Saudi Arabia. W. aegyptia is entirely black in color, and has highly shiny scales. W. morgani differs in having a juvenile pattern of reddish crossbars on the back, and lower average ventral and subcaudal scale counts. [more]

More info about the Genus Walterinnesia may be found here.

Sources

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Last Revised: September 23, 2009
2009/09/23 00:12:20