Xenodontinae is 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 ...

snakes Snakes are elongated Limbless vertebrate, limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales much like other members of ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Colubridae 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. C ...

. Xenodontinae are a highly diverse subfamily of snakes, in which many species may look alike, but are actually very different. Their hemipenial morphology serves as a crucial taxonomic tool for distinguishing genera and species. Myers, C. W., & McDowell, S. B. (2014). NEW TAXA AND CRYPTIC SPECIES OF NEOTROPICAL SNAKES (XENODONTINAE), WITH COMMENTARY ON HEMIPENES AS GENERIC AND SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 385, 1–112. The subfamily Xenodontinae encompasses a number of rear-fanged ( opisthoglyphous), mildly venomous snake

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 ...

found in South America and the Caribbean. Members of the subfamily Xenodontinae are by definition closer relatives to the genus ''

Xenodon ''Xenodon'' is a genus of New World snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. Geographic range Species of the genus ''Xenodon'' are found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Diet Snakes in the genus ''Xenodon'' pre ...

'' than they are to the genus ''

Dipsas ''Dipsas'' is a genus of nonvenomous New World snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The genus ''Sibynomorphus'' has been moved here. Species of the genus ''Dipsas'' are known as snail-eaters. Taxonomy The genus ''Dipsas'' ...

''. Some authors consider Xenodontinae and

Dipsadinae Dipsadinae is a large subfamily of colubroid snakes, sometimes referred to as a family (Dipsadidae). Species of the subfamily Dipsadinae are found in most of the Americas, including the West Indies, and are most diverse in South America. There a ...

to be synonymous. If the two names are used synonymously, then Dipsadinae is the correct name because it is older.

Genera

When used as a subfamily of Dipsadidae, Xenodontinae does not include genera placed in the subfamily Dipsadinae (e.g. ''

'', ''

Sibon Sibon () is a village in Khurgam Rural District of Khurgam District, Rudbar County, Gilan province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to ...

'', ''

Coniophanes ''Coniophanes'' is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly referred to as black-striped snakes, but they also have many other common names. The genus consists of 17 species, and despite the common name, not all of them display striping. Geograph ...

'', ''

Atractus ''Atractus'' is a genus of Colubridae, colubrid ground snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae. The genus includes more than 140 distinct species. Geographic range Snakes of the genus ''Atractus'' are Endemism, endemic to Central America, Central an ...

'', ''

Geophis ''Geophis'' is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family (biology), family Colubridae of the Taxonomic rank, superfamily Colubroidea. Species in the genus ''Geophis'' are Common name, commonly referred to as Latin American eart ...

'', ''

Hypsiglena ''Hypsiglena'' is a genus of small, rear-fanged snakes, commonly referred to as night snakes, in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The genus consists of nine species. Three of these species have subspecies, which have been mai ...

'', ''

Imantodes ''Imantodes'' is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as blunt-headed vine snakes or blunt-headed tree snakes. The genus consists of seven species that are native to Mexico, Central America, and the northern part of South America. Spe ...

'', ''

Leptodeira ''Leptodeira'' is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as cat-eyed snakes. The genus consists of 18 species that are native to primarily Mexico and Central America, but range as far north as the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas in Un ...

'', '' Ninia'', ''

Rhadinaea ''Rhadinaea'' is a genus of snakes of the family Colubridae.. Species The following 21 species are recognized as being valid. *''Rhadinaea bogertorum'' – Oaxacan graceful brown snake *'' Rhadinaea calligaster'' – thick graceful brown snake ...

'', '' Urotheca'') nor the North American relict genera (''

Heterodon ''Heterodon'' is a genus of harmless colubrid snakes endemic to North America.Platt, Dwight R. 1983. Heterodon'. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 351: 1-2. They are stout with upt ...

'', '' Farancia'', '' Diadophis'', '' Carphophis'', ''

Contia ''Contia'' is a small genus of small snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is native to western North America. Etymology The generic name, ''Contia'', is in honor of American entomologist John Lawrence LeConte ...

''), nor the Asian genus '' Thermophis'', because these are too distantly-related to ''

''.

References

Snake subfamilies Dipsadinae Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope {{Dipsadinae-stub