Snake Fossil range: Cretaceous - Recent
Spotted Python Antaresia maculosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Sauropsida Subclass: Diapsida Infraclass: Lepidosauromorpha Superorder: Lepidosauria Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Linnaeus, 1758
Infraorders and Families
Alethinophidia - Nopcsa, 1923 Acrochordidae- Bonaparte, 1831 Aniliidae - Stejneger, 1907 Anomochilidae - Cundall, Wallach & Rossman, 1993 Atractaspididae - Günther, 1858 Boidae - Gray, 1825 Bolyeriidae - Hoffstetter, 1946 Colubridae - Oppel, 1811 Cylindrophiidae - Fitzinger, 1843 Elapidae - F. Boie, 1827 Loxocemidae - Cope, 1861 Pythonidae - Fitzinger, 1826 Tropidophiidae - Brongersma, 1951 Uropeltidae - Müller, 1832 Viperidae - Oppel, 1811 Xenopeltidae - Bonaparte, 1845 Scolecophidia - Cope, 1864 Anomalepididae - Taylor, 1939 Leptotyphlopidae - Stejneger, 1892 Typhlopidae - Merrem, 1820

A snake is an elongate reptile of the suborder Serpentes. Like all reptiles, snakes are covered in scales. All snakes are carnivorous and can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids, limbs, external ears, and vestiges of forelimbs. The 2,700+ species of snakes spread across every continent except Antarctica ranging in size from the tiny, 10 cm long thread snake to pythons and anacondas over 17 feet long. In order to accommodate snakes' narrow bodies, paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side. The term Snake may refer to any of the following items: The common reptiles of the order Squamata: Snake A river located in the western United States: Snake River A video game popular on mobile phones: Snake (video game) The character from the animated series The Simpsons: Snake The name... // The Cretaceous Period (pronounced ) is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... The Holocene epoch is a geological period, which began approximately 11,550 calendar years BP (about 9600 BC) and continues to the present. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name Antaresia maculosa (Peters, 1873) The Spotted python (Antaresia maculosa) is a species of python that lives in northern Australia. ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Typical classes Petromyzontidae (lampreys) Placodermi - extinct Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) Acanthodii - extinct Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) Actinistia (coelacanths) Dipnoi (lungfish) Amphibia (amphibians) Reptilia (reptiles) Aves (birds) Mammalia (mammals) Vertebrata is a subphylum of chordates, specifically, those with backbones or spinal columns. ... Clades Subclass Anapsida Subclass Diapsida Infraclass Lepidosauromorpha Infraclass Archosauromorpha Sauropsids are a diverse group of mostly egg-laying vertebrate animals. ... Classes Ichthyosauria Sauropterygia Lepidosauria Archosauria Diapsids (two arches) are a group of tetrapod animals that developed two holes (temporal fenestra) in each side their skulls, about 300 million years ago during the late Carboniferous period. ... Orders Sphenodontia Squamata Eosuchia Conservation status: Fossil The Lepidosauria are a subclass of reptiles comprising the orders : Squamata Sphenodontia or Rhynchocephalia Eosuchia Conservation status: Fossil Lepidosaurians are the most successful of modern reptiles. ... Orders Sphenodontia Squamata Eosuchia Conservation status: Fossil The Lepidosauria are a subclass of reptiles comprising the orders : Squamata Sphenodontia or Rhynchocephalia Eosuchia Conservation status: Fossil Lepidosaurians are the most successful of modern reptiles. ... Suborders Lacertilia- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards This article is about the Squamata order of reptiles. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Year 1758 (MDCCLVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... Common names: (none). ... Baron Nopcsa Baron Franz Nopcsa von FelsÅ‘-Szilvás (also Baron Nopcsa, Ferenc Nopcsa, Nopcsa Ferenc, Baron Franz Nopcsa, and Franz Baron Nopcsa) (May 3rd, 1877 to April 25, 1933) was a Hungarian-born aristocrat, adventurer, scholar, and paleontologist. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Species Acrochordus granulatus Acrochordus arafurae Acrochordus javanicus Acrochordidae is a family of three species of primitive xenophidian snakes from the Australian and Indonesian regions. ... Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte (May 24, 1803 – July 29, 1857) was a French naturalist and ornithologist. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... FAMILY ANILIDAE (cylinder snakes) All of these species in the family Anilidae possess a vestigial pelvic girdle which is visible as cloacal spurs. ... Leonhard Hess Stejneger (October 30, 1851 - February 28, 1943) was a zoologist. ... Year 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Anomochilidae is a biological family of dwarf pipesnakes native to Malaysia and the East Indies. ... A small, unusual group of advanced snakes, often called mole vipers or stilleto snakes. ... Albrecht Carl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther. ... Year 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Boa (disambiguation). ... John Edward Gray. ... Year 1825 (MDCCCXXV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article needs cleanup. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Genera According to ITIS: Adelophis Adelphicos Alsophis Amastridium Arizona Arrhyton Atractus Bogertophis Boiga Carphophis Cemophora Cerberus Chersodromus Chilomeniscus Chionactis Clelia Clonophis Coluber Coniophanes Conophis Conopsis Contia Cryophis Dendrelaphis Dendrophidion Diadophis Dipsas Dryadophis Drymarchon Drymobius Elaphe Enulius Eridiphas Erythrolamprus Farancia Ficimia Geagras Geophis Gyalopion Heterodon Hypsiglena Imantodes Lampropeltis Leptodeira Leptophis Liochlorophis... Nicolaus Michael Oppel (December 7, 1782–February 16, 1820) was a German naturalist. ... For the US Federal Agent designation, see Special agent. ... Species There are 10 species: Cylindrophis aruensis Cylindrophis boulengeri Cylindrophis engkariensis - Engkari pipe snake Cylindrophis isolepis Cylindrophis lineatus Cylindrophis maculatus Cylindrophis melanotus Cylindrophis opisthorhodus Cylindrophis rufus Cylindrophis yamdena The Asian pipe snakes (genus Cylindrophis) are a group of snakes of the superfamily Henophidia. ... Leopold Fitzinger. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Elapidae, or elapids, are a family of highly venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. ... Friedrich Boie (1789-1870) was a German scientist. ... Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... SUBFAMILY LOXOCEMINAE (Mexicam Dwarf Pythons) Contains only 1 single genus. ... Edward Drinker Cope Edward Drinker Cope (July 28, 1840–April 12, 1897) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, as well as a noted herpetologist and ichthyologist. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Synonyms Pythonoidea - Fitzinger, 1826 Pythonoidei - Eichwald, 1831 Holodonta - Müller, 1832 Pythonina - Bonaparte, 1840 Pythophes - Fitzinger, 1843 Pythoniens - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Holodontes - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythonides - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythones - Cope, 1861 Pythonidae - Cope, 1864 Peropodes - Meyer, 1874... Leopold Fitzinger. ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Genera Exiliboa Trachyboa Tropidophis Ungaliophis The dwarf boas are a group of snakes traditionally classified as the family Tropidophiidae but sometimes as the subfamily Tropidophiinae within the family Boidae. ... Leo Daniel Brongersma (17 May 1907–24 July 1994) was a Dutch zoologist, author, and lecturer. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Synonyms Uropeltana - Müller, 1832 Uropeltacea - Müller, 1832 Rhinophes - Fitzinger, 1843 Uropeltidae - Gray, 1845 Uropeltina - Gray, 1858 Plecturina - Gray, 1858 Rhinophidae - Cope, 1900 Uropeltinae - McDowell, 1975[1] Common names: pipe snakes, shield-tailed snakes. ... Johannes Peter Müller (July 14, 1801, Koblenz – April 28, 1858, Berlin), was a German physiologist, comparative anatomist, and ichthyologist not only known for his discoveries but also for his ability to synthesize knowledge. ... Synonyms Viperae - Laurenti, 1768 Viperini - Oppel, 1811 Viperidae - Gray, 1825[1] The Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes commonly referred to as vipers, although the term viperids is more specific and distinguishes them from the viperines (subfamily Viperinae). ... Nicolaus Michael Oppel (December 7, 1782–February 16, 1820) was a German naturalist. ... For the US Federal Agent designation, see Special agent. ... The family Xenopeltidae - the Sunbeam Snake - is a family containing only a single genus. ... Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte (May 24, 1803 – July 29, 1857) was a French naturalist and ornithologist. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Common names: blind snakes, thread snakes. ... Edward Drinker Cope Edward Drinker Cope (July 28, 1840–April 12, 1897) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, as well as a noted herpetologist and ichthyologist. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Genera Anomalepis Helminthophis Liotyphlops Typhlophis Anomalepididae is a family of American blind snakes. ... Edward Harrison Taylor (April 23, 1889 - 1972) was a U.S. herpetologist from Kansas. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... FAMILY LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE (slender blind snakes) This family of snakes is composed of 2 genera and about 41 species occurring in the Americas, Africa and Asia. ... Leonhard Hess Stejneger (October 30, 1851 - February 28, 1943) was a zoologist. ... Year 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Genera Acutotyphlops Cyclotyphlops Ramphotyphlops Rhinotyphlops Typhlops Xenotyphlops TYPHLOPIDAE (blind snakes) This family contains 240 species in 3 genera. ... Blasius Merrem (February 4, 1761 _ February 23, 1824) was a German naturalist. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Reptilia redirects here. ... In this SEM image of a butterfly wing the scales are clearly visible, and the tiny platelets on each individual scale are just barely visible in the striping. ... Carnivorism redirects here. ... Lizards have evolved limbless form on a number of occasions. ... Binomial name (Schlegel, 1839) Synonyms Typhlops bilineatus - Schlegel, 1839 Typhlops (Eucephalus) bilineatus - Fitzinger, 1843 Stenostoma bilineatum - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Epicrata bilineatus - Gray, 1845 St[enostoma]. (Tetracheilostoma) bilineatum - Jan & Sordelli, 1861 S[tenostoma]. (Tetracheilostoma) bilineatum - Jan, 1863 Glauconia bilineata - Boulenger, 1893 Leptotyphlops bilineata - Barbour, 1914 Leptotyphlops bilineatus... Synonyms Pythonoidea - Fitzinger, 1826 Pythonoidei - Eichwald, 1831 Holodonta - Müller, 1832 Pythonina - Bonaparte, 1840 Pythophes - Fitzinger, 1843 Pythoniens - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Holodontes - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythonides - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythones - Cope, 1861 Pythonidae - Cope, 1864 Peropodes - Meyer, 1874... For other uses, see Anaconda (disambiguation). ...

While venomous snakes comprise a minority of the species, some possess potent venom capable of causing painful injury or death to humans. However, venom in snakes is primarily for killing and subduing prey rather than for self-defense. snakes may have evolved from a lizard which adapted to burrowing during the Cretaceous period (c 150 Ma), though some scientists have postulated an aquatic origin. The diversity of modern snakes appeared during the Paleocene period (c 66 to 56 Ma). // The Cretaceous Period (pronounced ) is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... Mega-annum, usually abbreviated as Ma, is a unit of time equal to one million years. ... The Paleocene, early dawn of the recent, is a geologic epoch that lasted from 65. ...

A literary word for snake is serpent (a Middle English word which comes from Old French, and ultimately from *serp-, "to creep"^[1]). In modern usage, the term serpent usually refers to a mythic or symbolic snake. In Christianity, the serpent is sometimes identified with the devil, as in the Biblical account of Adam and Eve, but also with healing, as in the Biblical account of the brass serpent of Moses. The serpent is also the symbol of the healing arts. Middle English is the name given by historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of 1066 and the mid-to-late 15th century, when the Chancery Standard, a form of London-based English, began to become widespread, a process aided by the... Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories corresponding roughly to the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from around 1000 to 1300. ... For other uses, see Serpent (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... Michelangelos Creation of Adam, from the Sistine Chapel. ...

Taxonomy

Squamata within the entire suborder Serpentes in Linnean taxonomy.^[2] There are two infraorders of Serpentes: Alethinophidia and Scolecophidia.^[2] This separation is based primarily on morphological characteristics between family groups and mitochondrial DNA. Suborders Lacertilia- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards This article is about the Squamata order of reptiles. ... A class is the rank in the scientific classification of organisms in biology below Phylum and above Order. ... Linnaean taxonomy classifies living things into a hierarchy, originally starting with kingdoms. ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Common names: (none). ... Common names: blind snakes, thread snakes. ... Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. ... Mitochondrial DNA (some captions in German) Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria. ...

As with most taxonomic classifications, there are many debates when it comes to how many there are. For instance, many sources classify Boidae and Pythonidae as the same family, or keep others, such as Elapidae and Hydrophiidae, separate for practical reasons despite their extremely close relation. For other uses, see Boa (disambiguation). ... Synonyms Pythonoidea - Fitzinger, 1826 Pythonoidei - Eichwald, 1831 Holodonta - Müller, 1832 Pythonina - Bonaparte, 1840 Pythophes - Fitzinger, 1843 Pythoniens - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Holodontes - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythonides - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythones - Cope, 1861 Pythonidae - Cope, 1864 Peropodes - Meyer, 1874... The Elapidae, or elapids, are a family of highly venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. ... Sea snakes of several different species belong to a group related to the cobras but aquatic rather than land dwelling. ...

Alethinophidia 15 families
Family	Common Names	Example Species	Example Photo
Acrochordidae Bonaparte, 1831[3]	file snakes	Marine File Snake (Acrochordus granulatus)
Aniliidae Stejneger, 1907[4]	coral pipe snakes	Burrowing False Coral (Anilius scytale)
Anomochilidae Cundall, Wallach and Rossman, 1993.[5]	dwarf pipe snakes	Leonard's Pipe Snake, (Anomochilus leonardi)
Atractaspididae Günther, 1858[6]	mole vipers	Stiletto Snake (Atractaspis bibroni)
Boidae Gray, 1825[3]	tree boa, Russell's earth boa, red sand boa, indian python	Amazon tree (Corallus hortulanus,)
Bolyeriidae Hoffstetter, 1946	Round Island boas	Round Island Burrowing Boa (Bolyeria multocarinata)
Colubridae Oppel, 1811[3]	colubrids, Common wolf snake, yellow spotted wolf snake, common kukri snake, streaked kukri snake, dumeril's black headed snake, buffstriped keel back, green keel back, checkered keel back, trinket snake, Rat snake, cat snake, glossy marsh snake, indian ribbon snake, common vine snake	Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)
Cylindrophiidae Fitzinger, 1843	Asian pipe snakes	Red-tailed Pipe Snake (Cylindrophis ruffus)
Elapidae Boie, 1827[3]	cobras, coral snakes, mambas, kraits, sea snakes, sea kraits, Australian elapids	King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
Loxocemidae Cope, 1861	Mexican burrowing snakes	Mexican burrowing snake (Loxocemus bicolor)
Pythonidae Fitzinger, 1826	pythons	Ball python/Royal python (Python regius)
Tropidophiidae Brongersma, 1951	dwarf boas	Northern Eyelash Boa (Trachyboa boulengeri)
Uropeltidae Müller, 1832	shield-tailed snakes, short-tailed snakes	Ocellated Shield-tail (Uropeltis ocellatus)
Viperidae Oppel, 1811[3]	vipers, pitvipers, rattlesnakes	European asp (Vipera aspis)
Xenopeltidae Bonaparte, 1845	sunbeam snakes	Sunbeam snake (Xenopeltis unicolor)
Scolecophidia 3 families
Family	Common Names	Example Species	Example Photo
Anomalepidae Taylor, 1939[3]	dawn blind snakes	Dawn Blind Snake (Liotyphlops beui)
Leptotyphlopidae Stejneger, 1892[3]	slender blind snakes	Texas Blind Snake (Leptotyphlops dulcis)
Typhlopidae Merrem, 1820[7]	blind snakes	Black Blind Snake (Typhlops reticulatus)

Common names: (none). ... Species Acrochordus granulatus Acrochordus arafurae Acrochordus javanicus Acrochordidae is a family of three species of primitive xenophidian snakes from the Australian and Indonesian regions. ... Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte (May 24, 1803 – July 29, 1857) was a French naturalist and ornithologist. ... Binomial name Acrochordus granulatus (Schneider, 1799) Marine File Snake or Little File Snake (Acrochordus granulatus) is a species of snake in family Acrochordidae. ... Preserved wart snake File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... FAMILY ANILIDAE (cylinder snakes) All of these species in the family Anilidae possess a vestigial pelvic girdle which is visible as cloacal spurs. ... Leonhard Hess Stejneger (October 30, 1851 - February 28, 1943) was a zoologist. ... Anomochilidae is a biological family of dwarf pipesnakes native to Malaysia and the East Indies. ... A small, unusual group of advanced snakes, often called mole vipers or stilleto snakes. ... Albrecht Carl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther. ... For other uses, see Boa (disambiguation). ... John Edward Gray. ... Small Corallus hortulanus from Peru File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Binomial name Bolyeria multocarinata (Boie, 1827) The Round Island Burrowing Boa (Bolyeria multocarinata) is a possible extinct boa endemic to Round Island near Mauritius. ... Genera According to ITIS: Adelophis Adelphicos Alsophis Amastridium Arizona Arrhyton Atractus Bogertophis Boiga Carphophis Cemophora Cerberus Chersodromus Chilomeniscus Chionactis Clelia Clonophis Coluber Coniophanes Conophis Conopsis Contia Cryophis Dendrelaphis Dendrophidion Diadophis Dipsas Dryadophis Drymarchon Drymobius Elaphe Enulius Eridiphas Erythrolamprus Farancia Ficimia Geagras Geophis Gyalopion Heterodon Hypsiglena Imantodes Lampropeltis Leptodeira Leptophis Liochlorophis... Nicolaus Michael Oppel (December 7, 1782–February 16, 1820) was a German naturalist. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 The Grass Snake, sometimes called the Ringed Snake or Water Snake (Natrix natrix) is a European non-venomous snake. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Species There are 10 species: Cylindrophis aruensis Cylindrophis boulengeri Cylindrophis engkariensis - Engkari pipe snake Cylindrophis isolepis Cylindrophis lineatus Cylindrophis maculatus Cylindrophis melanotus Cylindrophis opisthorhodus Cylindrophis rufus Cylindrophis yamdena The Asian pipe snakes (genus Cylindrophis) are a group of snakes of the superfamily Henophidia. ... Leopold Fitzinger. ... The Elapidae, or elapids, are a family of highly venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. ... Friedrich Boie (1789-1870) was a German scientist. ... Binomial name Cantor, 1836 Range (in red) The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the worlds longest venomous snake, growing to a length of 18. ... File links The following pages link to this file: King Cobra Categories: GFDL images ... SUBFAMILY LOXOCEMINAE (Mexicam Dwarf Pythons) Contains only 1 single genus. ... Edward Drinker Cope Edward Drinker Cope (July 28, 1840–April 12, 1897) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, as well as a noted herpetologist and ichthyologist. ... Binomial name Loxocemus bicolor Cope, 1861 The Mexican burrowing snake, Loxocemus bicolor, is a henophid snake that lives along the Pacific coast of central Mexico south to Costa Rica and north-western Honduras. ... Image File history File links Loxocemus_bicolor. ... Synonyms Pythonoidea - Fitzinger, 1826 Pythonoidei - Eichwald, 1831 Holodonta - Müller, 1832 Pythonina - Bonaparte, 1840 Pythophes - Fitzinger, 1843 Pythoniens - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Holodontes - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythonides - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythones - Cope, 1861 Pythonidae - Cope, 1864 Peropodes - Meyer, 1874... Leopold Fitzinger. ... Binomial name (Shaw, 1802) The Ball python (Python regius), also known as the Royal python, is a ground-dwelling, nonvenomous snake native to the savannahs and rain forests of western and central Africa, ball pythons can be found from Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia on the west... The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to Africa. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1000x750, 838 KB) Summary Pastel ball python{python regius}. Taken by Cody Campbell on October 6th 2005. ... Genera Exiliboa Trachyboa Tropidophis Ungaliophis The dwarf boas are a group of snakes traditionally classified as the family Tropidophiidae but sometimes as the subfamily Tropidophiinae within the family Boidae. ... Synonyms Uropeltana - Müller, 1832 Uropeltacea - Müller, 1832 Rhinophes - Fitzinger, 1843 Uropeltidae - Gray, 1845 Uropeltina - Gray, 1858 Plecturina - Gray, 1858 Rhinophidae - Cope, 1900 Uropeltinae - McDowell, 1975[1] Common names: pipe snakes, shield-tailed snakes. ... Johannes Peter Müller (July 14, 1801, Koblenz – April 28, 1858, Berlin), was a German physiologist, comparative anatomist, and ichthyologist not only known for his discoveries but also for his ability to synthesize knowledge. ... Binomial name Uropeltis ocellatus (Beddome, 1863) Ocellated Shieldtail, Uropeltis ocellatus (or Uropeltis ocellata), is a species of snake. ... Synonyms Viperae - Laurenti, 1768 Viperini - Oppel, 1811 Viperidae - Gray, 1825[1] The Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes commonly referred to as vipers, although the term viperids is more specific and distinguishes them from the viperines (subfamily Viperinae). ... Nicolaus Michael Oppel (December 7, 1782–February 16, 1820) was a German naturalist. ... Binomial name Vipera aspis (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms [Coluber] Aspis - Linnaeus, 1758 Vipera Mosis Charas - Laurenti, 1768 Vipera vulgaris - Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 Vipera ocellata - Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 Coluber Charasii - Shaw, 1802 [Vipera (Echidna)] Aspis - Merrem, 1820 C[hersea]. vulgaris - Fleming, 1822 Vipera aspis - Metaxa, 1823 Aspis ocellata... Image File history File links Vipera-aspis-aspis-1. ... The family Xenopeltidae - the Sunbeam Snake - is a family containing only a single genus. ... Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte (May 24, 1803 – July 29, 1857) was a French naturalist and ornithologist. ... Binomial name Xenopeltis unicolor Reinwardt, 1827 Xenopeltis unicolor is one of two known species of sunbeam snakes (the other being ). Found in southern China and southeast Asia, it is an egg laying snake, producing up to 10 eggs at a time. ... Common names: blind snakes, thread snakes. ... Genera Anomalepis Helminthophis Liotyphlops Typhlophis ... The Anomalepidae (dawn blind snakes) is a snake family belonging to the Typhlopoidea superfamily. ... Edward Harrison Taylor (April 23, 1889 - 1972) was a U.S. herpetologist from Kansas. ... FAMILY LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE (slender blind snakes) This family of snakes is composed of 2 genera and about 41 species occurring in the Americas, Africa and Asia. ... Leonhard Hess Stejneger (October 30, 1851 - February 28, 1943) was a zoologist. ... Genera Acutotyphlops Cyclotyphlops Ramphotyphlops Rhinotyphlops Typhlops Xenotyphlops TYPHLOPIDAE (blind snakes) This family contains 240 species in 3 genera. ... Blasius Merrem (February 4, 1761 _ February 23, 1824) was a German naturalist. ...

Evolution

Phylogeny of snakes is poorly known because snake skeletons are typically small and fragile, making fossilization uncommon. However 150 million year old specimens readily definable as snakes with lizard-like skeletal structures have been uncovered in South America and Africa.^[8] It has been agreed, on the basis of morphology, that snakes descended from lizards.^[9][8] Molecular evidence reinforces this; it is hypothesized that snakes share a common venomous ancestor with several lizard families, forming the Toxicofera clade. Phylogenetic groups, or taxa, can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic. ... For other uses, see Skeleton (disambiguation). ... A fossil Ammonite Fossils (from Latin fossus, literally having been dug up) are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains or traces (such as footprints) of animals, plants, and other organisms. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. ... For other uses, see Lizard (disambiguation). ... Snake Iguana Monitor Lizard Toxicofera (Latin for those who bear toxins), is a clade which represents about 4600 species (nearly 60%) of Squamates; it encompasses all venomous reptile species, as well as numerous related non-venomous species. ...

Fossil evidence suggests that snakes may have evolved from burrowing lizards, such as varanids or a similar group during the Cretaceous Period.^[10] An early fossil snake, Najash rionegrina, was a two-legged burrowing animal with a sacrum, and was fully terrestrial.^[11] One extant analog of these putative ancestors is the earless monitor Lanthanotus of Borneo, although it also is semi-aquatic.^[12] As these ancestors became more subterranean, they lost their limbs and their bodies became more streamlined for burrowing.^[12] According to this hypothesis, features such as the transparent, fused eyelids (brille) and loss of external ears evolved to combat subterranean conditions such as scratched corneas and dirt in the ears with snakes re-emerged onto the surface of the earth much as they are today.^[12][10] Other primitive snakes are known to have possessed hindlimbs but lacked a direct connection of the pelvic bones to the vertebrae, including Haasiophis, Pachyrhachis and Eupodophis, which are slightly older than Najash.^[13] Species Many, see text. ... // The Cretaceous Period (pronounced ) is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... Binomial name Najash rionegrina Apesteguía & Zaher, 2006 Najash rionegrina is the name given to the fossils of the most primitive snake yet found (based on phylogenetic analysis). ... For the record label, see Sacrum Torch. ... Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land, as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water (e. ... Classification Family Lanthanotidae Genus Lanthanotus Lanthanotus borneensis Lanthanotus borneensis (earless monitor) (1) is a aquatic, brown lizard from Borneo. ... Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. ... An aquatic animal is an animal which lives in water for most or all of the time. ... Transparent glass ball In optics, transparency is the property of allowing light to pass. ... The brille (also called the ocular scale, eye cap or spectacle) is the layer of transparent, immovable disc-shaped skin or scale covering the eyes of some animals for protection, especially in animals without eyelids. ... Haasiophis terrasanctus is an extinct snake snake with legs. ... Pachyrhachis problematicus is an extinct snake with legs. ... Binomial name Najash rionegrina Apesteguía & Zaher, 2006 Najash rionegrina is the name given to the fossils of the most primitive snake yet found (based on phylogenetic analysis). ...

Texas Coral Snake Micrurus tener

Primitive groups among the modern snakes, pythons and boas, have vestigial hind limbs: tiny, clawed digits known as anal spurs which are used to grasp during mating.^[13][8] Leptotyphlopidae and Typhlopidae are other examples where remnants of the pelvic girdle are still present, sometimes appearing as horny projections when visible. The frontal limbs in all snakes are non-existent because of the evolution of the Hox genes in this area. The axial skeleton of the snakes' common ancestor had like most other tetrapods the familiar regional specializations consisting of cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), lumbar (lower back), sacral (pelvic) and caudal (tail) vertebrae. The Hox gene expression in the axial skeleton responsible for the development of the thorax became dominant early in snake evolution and as a result, the vertebrae anterior to the hindlimb buds (when present) all have the same thoracic-like identity (except from the atlas, axis and 1-3 neck vertebrae), making most of the snake's skeleton being composed of an extremely extended thorax. Ribs are found exclusively on the thoracic vertebrae. The neck, lumbar and pelvic vertebrae are very reduced in number (only 2-10 lumbar and pelvic vertebrae are still present), while only a short tail remains of the caudal vertebrae, although the tail is still long enough to be of good use in many species, and is modified in some aquatic and tree dwelling species. Image File history File links Micrurus_tener. ... Image File history File links Micrurus_tener. ... Binomial name Baird & Girard, 1853 Synonyms Elaps tenere Baird & Girard, 1853 Micrurus fulvius tener Conant & Collins, 1991 The Texas Coral Snake (Micrurus tener) is a species of venomous coral snake, an elapid snake found in the southern United States, primarily in Texas, but it also ranges northeast into neighboring states... Synonyms Pythonoidea - Fitzinger, 1826 Pythonoidei - Eichwald, 1831 Holodonta - Müller, 1832 Pythonina - Bonaparte, 1840 Pythophes - Fitzinger, 1843 Pythoniens - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Holodontes - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythonides - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythones - Cope, 1861 Pythonidae - Cope, 1864 Peropodes - Meyer, 1874... This article is about the Korean pop singer. ... Spurs are the vesligial remnants of legs in primitive snakes, such as boas and pythons. ... FAMILY LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE (slender blind snakes) This family of snakes is composed of 2 genera and about 41 species occurring in the Americas, Africa and Asia. ... Genera Acutotyphlops Cyclotyphlops Ramphotyphlops Rhinotyphlops Typhlops Xenotyphlops TYPHLOPIDAE (blind snakes) This family contains 240 species in 3 genera. ... A homeobox is a DNA sequence found within genes that are involved in the regulation of development (morphogenesis) of animals, fungi and plants. ... In anatomy, the atlas (C1) is the topmost (first) cervical vertebra of the spine. ... In anatomy, the second cervical vertebra (C2) of the spine is named the axis or epistropheus. ...

An alternative hypothesis, based on morphology, suggests that the ancestors of snakes were related to mosasaurs — extinct aquatic reptiles from the Cretaceous — which in turn are thought to have derived from varanid lizards.^[9] Under this hypothesis, the fused, transparent eyelids of snakes are thought to have evolved to combat marine conditions (corneal water loss through osmosis), while the external ears were lost through disuse in an aquatic environment, ultimately leading to an animal similar in appearance to sea snakes of today. In the Late Cretaceous, snakes re-colonized the land much like they are today. Fossil snake remains are known from early Late Cretaceous marine sediments, which is consistent with this hypothesis, particularly as they are older than the terrestrial Najash rionegrina. Similar skull structure; reduced/absent limbs; and other anatomical features found in both mosasaurs and snakes lead to a positive cladistical correlation, although some of these features are shared with varanids. In recent years, genetic studies have indicated that snakes are not as closely related to monitor lizards as it was once believed, and therefore not to mosasaurs, the proposed ancestor in the aquatic scenario of their evolution. However, there is more evidence linking mosasaurs to snakes than to varanids. Fragmentary remains that have been found from the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous indicate deeper fossil records for these groups, which may eventually refute either hypothesis. The term morphology in biology refers to the outward appearance (shape, structure, colour, pattern) of an organism or taxon and its component parts. ... Subfamilies Mosasaurinae Plioplatecarpinae Tylosaurinae Mosasaurs (from Latin Mosa, the Meuse river where the fossils were first discovered + Greek sauros, lizard) were serpentine marine reptiles, more closely related to snakes than to monitor lizards (Lee 1997). ... An aquatic animal is an animal which lives in water for most or all of the time. ... // The Cretaceous Period (pronounced ) is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... Species Many, see text. ... For sea snakes in mythology and cryptozoology, see Sea serpent. ... // The Cretaceous Period (pronounced ) is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... It has been suggested that Clade be merged into this article or section. ... Species Many, see text. ... The Jurassic Period is a major unit of the geologic timescale that extends from about 199. ...

The great diversity of modern snakes appeared in the Paleocene, correlating with the adaptive radiation of mammals following the extinction of the dinosaurs. There are over 2,900 species of snakes ranging as far northward as the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and southward through Australia and Tasmania.^[9] Snakes can be found on every continent (with the exception of Antarctica), dwelling in the sea, and as high as 16,000 feet (4900m)in the Himalayan Mountains of Asia.^[9][14] There are numerous islands from which snakes are conspicuously absent such as Ireland, Iceland, and New Zealand.^[14] The Paleocene, early dawn of the recent, is a geologic epoch that lasted from 65. ... Four of the 13 finch species found on the Galápagos Archipelago, and thought to have evolved by an adaptive radiation that diversified their beak shapes to adapt them to different food sources. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... For the fast food restaurant chain, see Arctic Circle Restaurants. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product... Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ...

Digestion and diet

Snake eating a rodent.

All snakes are strictly carnivorous, eating small animals including lizards, other snakes, small mammals, birds, eggs, fish, snails or insects.^[9][15][16] Because snakes cannot bite or tear their food to pieces, prey must be swallowed whole. The body size of a snake has a major influence on its eating habits. Smaller snakes eat smaller prey. Juvenile pythons might start out feeding on lizards or mice and graduate to small deer or antelope as an adult, for example. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 561 pixelsFull resolution (2884 × 2024 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 561 pixelsFull resolution (2884 × 2024 pixel, file size: 1. ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. ... Carnivorism redirects here. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ...

The snake's jaw is the most unique jaw in the animal kingdom. Contrary to the popular belief that snakes can dislocate their jaws, snakes have a very flexible lower jaw, the two halves of which are not rigidly attached, and numerous other joints in their skull (see snake skull), allowing them to open their mouths wide enough to swallow their prey whole, even if it is larger in diameter than the snake itself,^[15] as snakes do not chew. For example, the African Egg-eating Snake has flexible jaws adapted for eating eggs much larger than the diameter of its head.^[16] This snake has no teeth, but does have bony protrusions on the inside edge of its spine which are used to aid in breaking the shells of the eggs it eats.^[16] Human jaw front view Human jaw left view Human jaw top view The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to, the mouth. ... The mandible (from Latin mandibÅ­la, jawbone) or inferior maxillary bone is, together with the maxilla, the largest and strongest bone of the face. ... For other uses of Skull, see Skull (disambiguation). ... The skull of a snake is a very complex and highly evolved structure, with numerous joints to allow the snake to swallow prey far bigger than its head. ... Species 5 recognized species, see article. ... Types of teeth Molars are used for grinding up foods Carnassials are used for slicing food. ... The vertebral column seen from the side Different regions (curvatures) of the vertebral column The vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of vertebrae situated in the dorsal aspect of the abdomen. ...

While the majority of snakes eat a variety of prey animals, there is some specialization by some species. King cobras and the Australian Bandy-bandy consume other snakes. Pareas iwesakii and other snail-eating Colubrids of subfamily Pareatinae have more teeth on the right side of their mouths than on the left, as the shells of their prey usually spiral clockwise^[17][18] Binomial name Cantor, 1836 Range (in red) The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the worlds longest venomous snake, growing to a length of 18. ... For other uses, see Snail (disambiguation). ... Subfamilies Boodontinae Calamariinae Colubrinae Dipsadinae Homalopsinae Natricinae Pareatinae Psammophiinae Pseudoxenodontinae Pseudoxyrhophiinae Xenodermatinae Xenodontinae See text for genera. ... Genera Aplopeltura Asthenodipsas (including Internatus) Pareas Pareatinae is a small subfamily of the Colubridae family of snakes. ...

Some snakes have a venomous bite, which they use to kill their prey before eating it.^[19][15] Other snakes kill their prey by constriction.^[15] Still others swallow their prey whole and alive.^[15][16] A Carpet snake (Morelia spilota variegata) eating a chicken. ...

African Egg-eating Snake

After eating, snakes become dormant while the process of digestion takes place.^[20] Digestion is an intense activity, especially after consumption of very large prey. In species that feed only sporadically, the entire intestine enters a reduced state between meals to conserve energy, and the digestive system is 'up-regulated' to full capacity within 48 hours of prey consumption. Being cold-blooded (ectothermic), the surrounding temperature plays a large role in a snake's digestion. 30 degrees celsius is the ideal temperature for snakes to digest their food. So much metabolic energy is involved in a snake's digestion that in Crotalus durissus, the Mexican rattlesnake, an increase of body temperature to as much as 1.2 degrees celsius above the surrounding environment has been observed.^[21] Because of this, a snake disturbed after having eaten recently will often regurgitate its prey in order to be able to escape the perceived threat. When undisturbed, the digestive process is highly efficient, with the snake's digestive enzymes dissolving and absorbing everything but the prey's hair and claws, which are excreted along with waste. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 435 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,024 × 1,411 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 435 × 599 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,024 × 1,411 pixels, file size: 1. ... Species 5 recognized species, see article. ... For the industrial process, see anaerobic digestion. ... In anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine. ... For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ... Structure of the coenzyme adenosine triphosphate, a central intermediate in energy metabolism. ... Heaving redirects here. ... Neuraminidase ribbon diagram An enzyme (in Greek en = in and zyme = blend) is a protein, or protein complex, that catalyzes a chemical reaction and also controls the 3D orientation of the catalyzed substrates. ... For the 1968 stage production, see Hair (musical), for the 1979 film, see Hair (film). ... CLAWS can also refer to the web site of Creating Livable Alternatives to Wage Slavery (CLAWS)[1] CLAWS is a modular open-source software package that provides account and identity management functions in a heterogeneous computing environment. ... Uric acid (or urate) is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen with the formula C5H4N4O3. ...

Skin

Main article: Snake scales

The skin of a snake is covered in scales. Contrary to the popular notion of snakes being slimy because of possible confusion of snakes with worms, snakeskin has a smooth, dry texture. Most snakes use specialized belly scales to travel, gripping surfaces. The body scales may be smooth, keeled, or granular. Snake's eyelids are transparent "spectacle" scales which remain permanently closed, also known as brille. Elaborately shaped scales on the head of a Vine snake, Ahaetulla nasuta. ... For other uses, see Skin (disambiguation). ... Elaborately shaped scales on the head of a Vine snake, Ahaetulla nasuta. ... For other uses, see Worm (disambiguation). ... Keeled scales refer to scales (on snakes, at least) that, rather than being smooth, have a ridge down the center. ...

The shedding of scales is called ecdysis, or, in normal usage moulting or sloughing. In the case of snakes, the complete outer layer of skin is shed in one layer.^[22] Snake scales are not discrete but extensions of the epidermis hence they are not shed separately, but are ejected as a complete contiguous outer layer of skin during each moult, akin to a sock being turned inside out.^[23] Ecdysis is the molting of the cuticula in arthropods and related groups (Ecdysozoa). ... In animals, moulting (Commonwealth English) or molting (American English) is the routine shedding off old feathers in birds, or of old skin in reptiles, or of old hairs in mammals (see also coat (dog)). In arthropods, such as insects, arachnids and crustaceans, moulting describes the shedding of its exoskeleton (which... In animals, moulting (Commonwealth English) or molting (American English) is the routine shedding off old feathers in birds, or of old skin in reptiles, or of old hairs in mammals (see also coat (dog)). In arthropods, such as insects, arachnids and crustaceans, moulting describes the shed