Natricinae

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Natricinae
Natrix tessellata Rheinland-Pfalz 02.jpg
Dice snake, Natrix tessellata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Natricinae
Bonaparte, 1838
Genera

36, see text

The Natricinae are a subfamily of colubroid snakes, sometimes referred to as a family (Natricidae). [1] The subfamily comprises 36 genera. Members include many very common snake species, such as the European grass snakes, and the North American water snakes and garter snakes. Some Old World members of the subfamily are known as keelbacks, because their dorsal scales exhibit strong keeling.

Contents

Natricine snakes are found in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and Central America as far south as Costa Rica. A single species, Tropidonophis mairii , reaches Australia. Although the highest diversity is in North America, the oldest members are in Asia and Africa, suggesting an Old World origin for the group. Most species are semiaquatic and feed on fish and amphibians, although a few are semifossorial or leaf-litter snakes that feed on invertebrates. Most species are harmless to humans, but a few (e.g., Thamnophis sirtalis , Thamnophis elegans ) are capable of inflicting bites that can result in local, non-life-threatening symptoms, and at least two members of the genus Rhabdophis ( R. tigrinus and R. subminiatus ) are capable of inflicting life-threatening bites to humans, though they have only enlarged, ungrooved fangs in the back of the mouth. [2]

Classification

The Natricinae are recognised as a sister group of the Dipsadinae plus the Pseudoxenodontinae. [3]

Genera

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colubridae</span> Family of snakes

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<i>Boiga</i> Genus of snakes

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<i>Rhabdophis subminiatus</i> Species of snake

Rhabdophis subminiatus, commonly called the red-necked keelback or red-necked keelback snake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia. Unusual for snakes, it is also poisonous.

<i>Masticophis</i> Genus of snakes

Masticophis is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly referred to as whip snakes or coachwhips, which are endemic to the Americas. They are characterized by having a long, thin body and are not dangerous to humans.

<i>Nerodia</i> Genus of reptiles

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<i>Salvadora</i> (snake) Genus of snakes

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<i>Tantilla</i> Genus of snakes

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<i>Rhabdophis</i> Genus of snakes

Rhabdophis is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. Species in the genus Rhabdophis are generally called keelback snakes, and are found primarily in Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colubrinae</span> Subfamily of snakes

The Colubrinae are a subfamily of snakes within the family Colubridae. It includes numerous genera, and although taxonomic sources often disagree on the exact number, the Reptile Database lists 717 species in 92 genera as of September 2019. It is the second largest subfamily of colubrids, after Dipsadinae. Many of the most commonly known snakes are members of this subfamily, including rat snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, vine snakes, and indigo snakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Checkered garter snake</span> Species of snake

The checkered garter snake is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

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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 are more than 700 member species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamprophiinae</span> Subfamily of snakes

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<i>Rhabdophis swinhonis</i> Species of snake

Rhabdophis swinhonis is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Taiwan. It is also known commonly as the Taiwan keelback and Swinhoe's grass snake.

Rhabdophis barbouri, also known commonly as Barbour's water snake, is a species of keelback snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Philippines.

References

  1. Dowling, Herndon G.; Jenner, Janann V. (1988). Snakes of Burma: Checklist of reported species and bibliography. Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service #76. Washington, D.C.: Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. OCLC   23345387.
  2. Weinstein, Scott A.; Warrell, David A.; White, Julian; Keyler, Daniel E. (2011). Venomous Bites from Non-Venomous Snakes: A Critical Analysis of Risk and Management of "Colubrid" Snake Bites. London: Elsevier. 364 pp. ISBN   978-0123877321.
  3. Pyron, R. Alexander; et al. (2011). "The phylogeny of advanced snakes (Colubroidea), with discovery of a new subfamily and comparison of support methods for likelihood trees" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 58 (2): 329–342. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.11.006. PMID   21074626. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2013.
  4. Species Blythia reticulata at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading