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Venomous Snake
''Venomous snakes'' are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow or grooved fangs, although some venomous snakes lack well-developed fangs. Common venomous snakes include the families Elapidae, Viperidae, Atractaspididae, and some of the Colubridae. The toxicity of venom is mainly indicated by murine , while multiple factors are considered to judge the potential danger to humans. Other important factors for risk assessment include the likelihood that a snake will bite, the quantity of venom delivered with the bite, the efficiency of the delivery mechanism, and the location of a bite on the body of the victim. Snake venom may have both neurotoxic and hemotoxic properties. There are about 600 venomous snake species in the world. Evolution The evolutionary history of venomous snakes can be traced back ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ophiophagus Hannah Skull
The king cobra (''Ophiophagus hannah'') is a species complex of snakes Endemism, endemic to Asia. With an average of and a record length of , it is the world's longest venomous snake and among the heaviest. Under the genus ''Ophiophagus'', it is not phylogenetics, phylogenetically a Naja, true cobra despite its common name and some resemblance. Spanning from the Indian Subcontinent through Southeastern Asia to Southern China, the king cobra is widely distributed albeit not commonly seen. Individuals have Polymorphism (biology), diversified colouration across its habitats, from black with white strips to unbroken brownish grey, although after taxonomic re-evaluation, it is no longer the monotypic, sole member of its genus but is now a species complex; these differences in pattern and other aspects may cause the genus to be split into at least four species, spread across its large Species distribution, geographic range. It chiefly Ophiophagy, hunts other snakes, including Can ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parallel Evolution
Parallel evolution is the similar development of a trait in distinct species that are not closely related, but share a similar original trait in response to similar evolutionary pressure.Zhang, J. and Kumar, S. 1997Detection of convergent and parallel evolution at the amino acid sequence level. ''Mol. Biol. Evol.'' 14, 527-36. Parallel vs. convergent evolution Given a trait that occurs in each of two lineages descended from a specified ancestor, it is possible in theory to define parallel and convergent evolutionary trends strictly, and distinguish them clearly from one another. However, the criteria for defining convergent as opposed to parallel evolution are unclear in practice, so that arbitrary diagnosis is common. When two species share a trait, evolution is defined as parallel if the ancestors are known to have shared that similarity; if not, it is defined as convergent. However, the stated conditions are a matter of degree; all organisms share common ancestors. Scientis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sea Snake
Sea snakes, or coral reef snakes, are Elapidae, elapid snakes that inhabit Marine (ocean), marine environments for most or all of their lives. They belong to two subfamilies, Hydrophiinae and Sea krait, Laticaudinae. Hydrophiinae also includes Australasian terrestrial snakes, whereas Laticaudinae only includes the sea kraits (''Laticauda''), of which three species are found exclusively in freshwater. If these three freshwater species are excluded, there are 69 species of sea snakes divided among seven Genus, genera. Most sea snakes are venomous snake, venomous, except the genus ''Emydocephalus'', which feeds almost exclusively on fish eggs. Sea snakes are extensively adapted to a fully aquatic life and are unable to move on land, except for the sea kraits, which have limited land movement. They are found in warm coastal waters from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and are closely related to venomous terrestrial snakes in Australia. All sea snakes have paddle-like tails and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boomslang
The boomslang ( or ; ''Dispholidus typus'') is a highly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Etymology Its common name means "tree snake" in Dutch and Afrikaans – ''boom'' meaning "tree", and ''slang'' meaning "snake". In Afrikaans, the name is pronounced . Taxonomy The boomslang is a colubrid snake within the subfamily Colubrinae. It belongs to the genus ''Dispholidus'', which contains two other species, '' D. pembae'' and '' D. punctatus''. The boomslang is thought to be closely related to members of the genera '' Thelotornis'', '' Thrasops'', '' Rhamnophis'', and '' Xyelodontophis'', with which it forms the taxonomic tribe Dispholidini. Close relationships can be shown in the cladogram below: Subspecies Two subspecies are recognised, including the nominotypical subspecies. * ''D. t. kivuensis'' * ''D. t. typus'' The trinomial authority in parentheses for ''D. t. typus'' indicates that the subspecies wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Micrelaps
:''Common names: two-headed snakes.'' ''Micrelaps'' is a genus of rear-fanged mildly venomous snakes. It is the only genus in the family Micrelapidae. The genus is native to Africa and the Middle East, and there are four species that are recognized as being valid. Taxonomy Until very recently, this genus was classified in the family Atractaspididae. However, a phylogenomic study published in 2023 on the ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' journal has concluded that the genus should be re-classified into an autonomous family, apart from Atractaspididae, and thus created a new family called Micrelapidae, which constitutes a new Afro-Asian family of snakes. Description Species in the genus ''Micrelaps'' share the following characters: the maxilla is very short, with two teeth, followed, after an interspace, by a very large grooved fang situated below the eye. The mandibular teeth are longest anteriorly. The head is small, and is not distinct from the neck. The eye is minut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Macrelaps
''Macrelaps'' (or KwaZulu-Natal black snake) is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) venomous snake species, ''M. microlepidotus'', endemic to South Africa. No subspecies are currently recognised. Description (diagnosis) of genus Maxillary short, with four moderately large teeth, followed by a very large grooved fang situated below the eye. Anterior mandibular teeth enlarged, third to fifth longest. Head small, not distinct from neck. Eye minute, with round pupil. Nasal divided. No loreal. No preocular. Prefrontal entering the eye. Body cylindrical; tail short. Dorsal scales smooth, without pits, in 25 or 27 rows. Ventrals rounded; subcaudals single. Description of species ''Macrelaps microlepidotus'' is completely black dorsally and ventrally. It may attain in total length, with a tail long. Smooth dorsal scales arranged in 25 or 27 rows. Ventrals 163–166; anal plate entire; subcaudals 37–48, also entire. Portion of rostral visible from above ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homoroselaps
''Homoroselaps'' is a genus of mildly venomous snakes of the family Atractaspididae The Atractaspididae (atractaspidids) are a Family (biology), family of venomous snakes found in Africa and the Middle East, commonly called mole vipers, stiletto snakes, or burrowing asps. Currently, 12 genus, genera are recognized. Description ..... Species * '' Homoroselaps dorsalis'' (Smith, 1849) - striped harlequin snake, striped dwarf garter snake * '' Homoroselaps lacteus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) - spotted harlequin snake References {{Taxonbar, from=Q5085060 Homoroselaps Snake genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hypoptophis
:''Common names:'' African bighead snake, wedge-snouted burrowing snake. ''Hypoptophis'' is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged ( opisthoglyphous) mildly venomous snake species, ''Hypoptophis wilsonii''. The species, which is endemic to Africa, is in the subfamily Aparallactinae of the family Atractaspididae. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Geographic range ''Hypoptophis wilsonii'' is found in Angola, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), and Zambia. The type locality is "Inkongo, on the Sankuru River, in the Kasai Province of the Congo". Boulenger GA (1908). "Description of Three new Snakes from Africa". ''Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Eighth Series'' 2: 93-94. (''Hypoptophis wilsonii'', new species). Description (diagnosis) of genus The genus ''Hypoptophis'' exhibits the following characters. The maxilla is very short, with four teeth gradually increasing in size, followed, after an interspace, by two lar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chilorhinophis
:''Common name: two-headed snakes.'' ''Chilorhinophis'' is a genus of mildly venomous snakes endemic to Africa. Currently, three species are recognized. Species ''*) Not including the nominate subspecies.'' ) Type species. See also * Snakebite. References Further reading * Branch, Bill (2004). ''Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Third Revised Edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. . (Genus ''Chilorhinophis'', p. 67). * Loveridge A (1958). "Revision of Five African Snake Genera". ''Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College'' 119: 1–198. (Genus ''Chilorhinophis'', pp. 168–169). *Werner F (1907). "''Ergebnisse der mit Subvention aus der Erbschaft Treitl unternommenen zoologischen Forschungreise Dr. Franz Werner's in den ägyptischen Sudan und nach Nord-Uganda. XII. Die Reptilien und Amphibien'' ". ''Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Klasse der Kaise ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brachyophis
''Brachyophis'' is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged mildly venomous snake species, ''Brachyophis revoili'', commonly known as Revoil's short snake, which is endemic to Eastern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized as being valid. Description (diagnosis) of genus The maxillary is very short, with two or three small teeth, followed, after an interspace, by a large grooved fang. The mandibular teeth increase in length to the third. The head is small and is not distinct from the neck. The snout is depressed and sharp-edged. The eye is minute, with a round pupil. The nostril is pierced in a single nasal, which does not touch the rostral, the internasal forming a suture with the first upper labial. There is no loreal, and there are no temporals. A large azygous occipital shield is present. The body is remarkably short, and is cylindrical. The tail is extremely short. The dorsal scales are smooth, without apical pits, and are arranged in 15 rows at midbody. The ven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aparallactus
:''Common name: centipede eaters.'' ''Aparallactus'' is a genus of rear-fanged mildly venomous snakes in the family Atractaspididae. The genus is endemic to Africa. 11 species are recognized as being valid. Description Species in the genus ''Aparallactus'' have a short maxilla, with 6-9 small teeth followed by a large grooved fang situated below the eye. The anterior mandibular teeth are the longest. The head is small, not distinct from the neck. The eye is small, with a round pupil. The nasal is entire or divided. There is no loreal scale. The body is cylindrical. The tail is moderate or short. The dorsal scales are smooth, without pits, and are arranged in 15 rows. The ventrals are rounded. The subcaudals are single (not divided nor paired). Boulenger GA (1896). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ....'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amblyodipsas
''Amblyodipsas'' is a genus of snakes found in Africa. Currently, 9 species are recognized.. These snakes are often known as purple-glossed snakes or glossy snakes. Although rear-fanged, all species are considered harmless, but their venom has not been well studied. They should not be confused with the glossy snakes of the genus ''Arizona'', which are found in North America. Description Maxillary very short, with five teeth gradually increasing in size and followed, after an interspace, by a large grooved fang situated below the eye. Mandibular teeth decreasing in size posteriorly. Head small, not distinct from neck; eye minute, with round pupil; nostril in a single very small nasal; no internasals; no loreal; no preocular; no anterior temporal. Body cylindrical. Dorsal scales smooth, without pits. Tail very short, obtuse. Subcaudals in two rows. Boulenger, G.A. (1896). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
