Colubridae (Colubrids) :
About 2000 species. Make up 2/3 of total snakes.
Eg: Garter snakes, Boomslangs, African Bird snake.
Lives through out the world. The different species vary greatly in appearance and ways of life.
Typhlopidae (Blind Snakes) :
About 200 species; burrows the underground and eats ants and earthworms. Looks like earthworms. About 90 cm in length; Eyes covered with head scales. Lives in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
Anomalepididae (Primitive B.S) :
Small worm like snake which lives in rain forests of central and south america; eats small insects and worms. Closely related to Blind snakes. about 20 species known.
Leptotyphlopidae (Thread Snakes) :
About 50 species known. Closely related to the Blind Snakes. Only differences are
B.S : Tooth in upper jaws.
TS : Tooth in lower jaws.
Lives in Africa, Southern Asia, S.W.N America; tropical areas of Central and S. America.
Boidae (Biods) :
Include the largest snakes like Anacondas, Pythons and Boas. about 100 species; large and stout bodies. However some are less than 90 cm. Have external vestigal organs. Seen in tropical and subtropical areas.
Elapidae (Elapids) :
About 200 species. Short; have non movable fangs (modified venom tooth). Front fanged snakes; All highly venomous. No elapids live in Europe.
Eg: Coral snakes, Australian Black snakes, Death Adders, Tiger Snakes, King Cobras, Cobras.
Hydrophiidae (Sea Snakes) :
About 50-60 species. Related to Elapids. About 90-120 cm long. Body flattened sideways (adapted to swimming). Topical areas of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Seen in depths less than 50 m. Give birth to Young ones.
Uropeltidae (Shield Tailed) :
About 25 species. Live in Southern India and Sri-Lanka. Have highly pointed or wedge shaped snout. Blunt tail and smooth scales.
Viperidae (Vipers) :
Have long hollow fangs (Movable), Highly venomous. Head triangular and keeled (in majority). Front movable fangs. Longer fangs.
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