The Calamariinae are a

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

colubrid Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from , 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest fossil species of the family date back to the Late Eocene epoch, with earlier origins suspected. Colu ...

snakes, commonly known as reed snakes, that are found in southern and southeastern

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

. They are most diverse in

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

, especially

Sumatra Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...

and

Borneo Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...

. The subfamily contains 90 species in seven

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

. Very few specimens of most species have been collected. The genus ''

Calamaria ''Calamaria'' is a large genus of dwarf burrowing snakes of the family Colubridae. The genus contains 66 recognized species. The genus is endemic to Asia. Description Species in the genus ''Calamaria'' share the following characteristics. The ei ...

'' has far more species (60) than all other genera in the subfamily combined, and its geographic range is more extensive than the combined ranges of the other genera. Consequently, more is known about it than about the other genera, although Calamariinae is still among the most poorly known groups of snakes in the world, especially for its relatively high species diversity. Calamariine snakes are small, burrowing, forest-dwelling snakes that eat worms. Very few species of colubrid snakes have as few dorsal scale rows (13) as ''

'', and none have more extensive fusion of the head scales. Most species have laterally compressed, flask-shaped maxillary teeth.

Genera

*''

'' (70 species) *''

Calamorhabdium ''Calamorhabdium'' is a small genus of snakes, commonly known as iridescent snakes, in the family Colubridae. The genus contains two described species. Both species are burrowing snakes found in Asia. Species *'' Calamorhabdium acuticeps'' – ...

'' (2 species) *''

Collorhabdium ''Collorhabdium'' is a genus of snake in the family Colubridae. The genus contains the sole species ''Collorhabdium williamsoni''. It is commonly known as the mountain dwarf snake and Williamson's reed snake. It is endemic to Malaysia. Etymology ...

'' (1 species) *''

Etheridgeum ''Etheridgeum'' is a genus of snake in the family Colubridae. The genus is monotypic, containing the sole species ''Etheridgeum pulchrum'', which is commonly known as the Sumatra Etheridge snake, and is native to Indonesia. Etymology The generi ...

'' (1 species) *''

Macrocalamus ''Macrocalamus'' is a genus of snakes of the family Colubridae. Geographic range The genus ''Macrocalamus'' is endemic to the Malay Peninsula. Species The following eight species are recognized as being valid.. *'' Macrocalamus chanardi'' – ...

'' (8 species) *''

Pseudorabdion ''Pseudorabdion'' is a genus of snakes of the family Colubridae. Geographic range Species in the genus ''Pseudorabdion'' are found in Southeast Asia. Species The following 15 species are recognized as being valid. * '' Pseudorabdion albonuchali ...

'' (15 species) *''

Rabdion ''Rabdion'' is a genus of snakes of the Family (biology), family Colubridae. Species The genus ''Rhabdion'' contains the following two valid species. *''Rabdion forsteni'' - Forsten's pointed snake *''Rabdion grovesi'' - Groves’s pointed sna ...

'' (2 species)

References

Calamariinae Snake subfamilies {{Colubrids-stub