A Colubrid is a snake that is a member of the Colubridaefamily. It is a broad classification of snakes that includes well over half of all snake species on earth. 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 Boiga and sub-family Homalopsinae, can produce medically significant bites. In addition, the African Boomslang and African Twig Snake have both caused human fatalities.
Examples of snakes found in the colubridae family include:
The tails of the colubrids are normally cylindrical and pointed and in some species the last few teeth on the maxilla are enlarged and grooved hence these are known as ârear-fanged snakesâ.
Being the largest snakefamily, Colubridae members occupy a variety of diverse habitats.
The snakes can be divided into four ecological categories according to their habitats namely, Fossorial (live inside soil), Terrestrial (live on the ground), Arboreal (live on shrubs and trees) and Aquatic (live in water), where the last habitat can be furthermore divided as Freshwater, Brackish water and Marine.
Colubridae (colubrid snakes; order Squamata, suborder Serpentes) The largest family of snakes, most of which are harmless and have solid teeth, but some of which are venomous, with teeth at the back of the jaws grooved for venom.
Reproduction in the coachwhip, Masticophis flagellum (serpentes: colubridae), from Arizona.
Reproduction in western ribbon snakes, Thamnophis proximus (Serpentes: Colubridae), from an east Texas bottomland.
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