AROD > Reptiles / Squamata / Colubridae
Colubrid snakes
Colubridae
Etymology: | From coluber, Latin for 'snake'. | ||||||||||||||
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Notes: |
This is the dominant family of snakes in all parts of the world except Australia. Two subfamilies are found in Australia: Natricinae - after the Latin natricis, a water snake. Represented only by the non-venomous keelback (Tropidonophis mairii). Natricine snakes are toad eaters, and the keelback is the only Australian snake that can regularly eat the introduced and highly toxic cane toad. Colubrinae - from coluber, Latin for 'snake'. The largest and most diverse group worldwide. Non- or weakly-venomous. The former subfamily Homalopsinae (from homalos and opsis, Greek for 'even' and 'appearance') has been elevated to its own family, Homalopsidae. It contains aquatic and semi-aquatic snakes that are weakly venomous. |
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Statistics: |
Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 7 out of 7 Australian species Size range: Smallest Australian species: keelback (Tropidonophis mairii) at 50 cm Longest Australian species: brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) at up to 200 cm |
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Number of Australian genera: | 5 | ||||||||||||||
Number of Australian species: | 7 | ||||||||||||||
Genera: |
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