# Colubrinae > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Colubrinae > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Colubrinae.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colubrinae > Source revision: 1354829468 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Subfamily of snakes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = [Oligocene](/source/Oligocene)-[Holocene](/source/Holocene), {{Fossil range|33.9|0|ref={{cite web |website=Fossilworks|url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=53080 |title=Subfamily Colubrinae Oppel 1811 (colubrid snake) |access-date=17 December 2021}}}} | image = Elaphe situla.jpg | image_caption = European ratsnake, ''[Zamenis situla](/source/Zamenis_situla)'' | taxon = Colubrinae | authority = [Oppel](/source/Nicolaus_Michael_Oppel), 1811 | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = Nearly 100, see text }} The '''Colubrinae''' are a [subfamily](/source/subfamily) of snakes within the family [Colubridae](/source/Colubridae). It includes numerous [genera](/source/genus), and although [taxonomic](/source/Taxonomy_(biology)) sources often disagree on the exact number, the [Reptile Database](/source/Reptile_Database) lists 717 species in 92 genera as of September 2019.{{cite web|last1=Uetz|first1=Peter|title=Colubrinae|url=http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?taxon=colubrinae&submit=Search|website=The Reptile Database|access-date=18 September 2019}} It is the second largest subfamily of colubrids, after [Dipsadinae](/source/Dipsadinae). Many of the most commonly known snakes are members of this subfamily, including [rat snake](/source/rat_snake)s, [king snake](/source/king_snake)s, [milk snake](/source/milk_snake)s, [vine snake](/source/vine_snake_(disambiguation))s, and [indigo snake](/source/indigo_snake)s. ==Distribution== Colubrine snakes are distributed worldwide, with the highest diversity in North America, Asia, northern Africa, and the Middle East. There are relatively few species of colubrine snakes in Europe, South America, Australia, and southern Africa, and none in Madagascar, the Caribbean, or the Pacific Islands.{{cite book|last1=Wallach|first1=V. W.|last2=Williams|first2=K. L.|last3=Boundy|first3=J.|title=Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species|date=2014|publisher=CRC Press|location=Boca Raton, Florida, USA}}{{cite book|last1=Pough|first1=F. H.|last2=Andrews|first2=R. M.|last3=Crump|first3=M. L.|last4=Savitzky|first4=A. H.|last5=Wells|first5=K. D.|last6=Brandley|first6=M. C.|title=Herpetology|date=2016|publisher=Sinauer Associates, Inc.|location=Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA|edition=4th}} ==Description== Colubrine snakes are extremely [morphologically](/source/Morphology_(biology)) and ecologically diverse. Many are terrestrial, and there are specialized [fossorial](/source/fossorial) (e.g. ''[Tantilla](/source/Tantilla)'') and [arboreal](/source/arboreal) (e.g. ''[Oxybelis](/source/Oxybelis)'') groups, but no truly aquatic groups. Some of the most powerful [constrictors](/source/constriction) (e.g. ''[Pantherophis](/source/Pantherophis)'', ''[Pituophis](/source/Pituophis)'', ''[Lampropeltis](/source/Lampropeltis)'') are members of this group, as are a few snakes that have strong enough venom to kill humans (i.e. [boomslang](/source/boomslang)s [''[Dispholidus](/source/Dispholidus)''] and twigsnakes [''[Thelotornis](/source/Thelotornis)'']).{{cite journal|last1=Pla|first1=D.|last2=Sanz|first2=L.|last3=Whiteley|first3=G.|last4=Wagstaff|first4=S. C.|last5=Harrison|first5=R. A.|last6=Casewell|first6=N. R.|last7=Calvete|first7=J. J.|title=What killed Karl Patterson Schmidt? Combined venom gland transcriptomic, venomic and antivenomic analysis of the South African green tree snake (the boomslang), Dispholidus typus|journal=Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects|date=2017|volume=1861|issue=4|pages=814–823|doi=10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.01.020|pmid=28130154|pmc=5335903}}{{cite journal|last1=Fry|first1=B. G.|last2=Casewell|first2=N. R.|last3=Wüster|first3=W.|last4=Vidal|first4=N.|last5=Young|first5=B.|last6=Jackson|first6=T. N.|title=The structural and functional diversification of the Toxicofera reptile venom system|journal=Toxicon|date=2012|volume=60|issue=4|pages=434–448|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.02.013|pmid=22446061}} ==Classification== Colubrinae is one of several [subfamilies](/source/subfamilies) within the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Colubridae](/source/Colubridae), the largest family of snakes. Its [phylogeny](/source/phylogeny) can be shown in the [cladogram](/source/cladogram) below: {{clade |label1=[Colubridae](/source/Colubridae) |1={{clade |label1= |1={{clade |label1= |1={{clade |1=[Sibynophiinae](/source/Sibynophiinae) |2=[Natricinae](/source/Natricinae) }} |2={{clade |1=[Pseudoxenodontinae](/source/Pseudoxenodontinae) |2=[Dipsadinae](/source/Dipsadinae) }} }} |2={{clade |1={{clade |1=[Grayiinae](/source/Grayiinae) |2=[Calamariinae](/source/Calamariinae) }} |2={{clade |1=[Ahaetuliinae](/source/Ahaetuliinae) |2='''Colubrinae''' }} }} }} }} Within Colubrinae, genera and species seem to make up five distinct radiations{{cite journal|last1=Pyron|first1=R. A.|last2=Burbrink|first2=F. T.|last3=Colli|first3=G. R.|last4=De Oca|first4=A. N. M.|last5=Vitt|first5=L. J.|last6=Kuczynski|first6=C. A.|last7=Wiens|first7=J. J.|title=The phylogeny of advanced snakes (Colubroidea), with discovery of a new subfamily and comparison of support methods for likelihood trees|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|date=2011|volume=58|issue=2|pages=329–342|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.11.006|pmid=21074626|url=http://www.wienslab.com/Publications_files/Pyron_et_al_2011.pdf}} that are to varying degrees broadly similar in terms of ecology and geographic distribution, although increased sampling is needed to determine whether all species currently placed in Colubrinae fit into one of these groups. These correspond roughly to the historically recognized [tribe](/source/Tribe_(taxonomy)) names Sonorini, Colubrini, Boigini/Lycodontini, Dispholidini, and [Lampropeltini](/source/Lampropeltini). ''[Coluber](/source/Coluber)'' is the type genus of both Colubrinae and [Colubridae](/source/Colubridae) and the basis for the name [Colubroidea](/source/Colubroidea), and it is one of only three snake genera named by [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) still in use for a snake today.{{cite web|last1=Durso|first1=Andrew|title=The Linnaean Snakes: Part I|url=http://snakesarelong.blogspot.de/2015/05/linnaean-snakes-part-i.html|website=Life is Short, but Snakes are Long|access-date=19 May 2018|date=2015-05-25}}{{cite web|last1=Durso|first1=Andrew|title=The Linnaean Snakes: Part II|url=http://snakesarelong.blogspot.de/2015/06/the-linnaean-snakes-part-ii.html|website=Life is Short, but Snakes are Long|access-date=19 May 2018|date=2015-06-30}} == List of genera == [[File:Sonora semiannulata semiannulata, Ozark County, Missouri, by Peter Paplanus.jpg|240px|thumb|right|''[Sonora semiannulata](/source/Sonora_semiannulata)'' (groundsnake)]] [[File:Rhynchophis boulengeri head (2).jpg|240px|thumb|right|''[Gonyosoma boulengeri](/source/Gonyosoma_boulengeri)'' (rhino rat snake)]] [[File:Ularburong_Boiga_dendrophila.jpg|240px|thumb|right|''[Boiga dendrophila](/source/Boiga_dendrophila)'' (mangrove snake)]] [[File:Dispholidus typus.jpg|240px|thumb|right|''[Dispholidus typus](/source/Dispholidus_typus)'' ([boomslang](/source/boomslang))]] [[File:CoronellaAustriaca3.jpg|240px|thumb|right|''[Coronella austriaca](/source/Coronella_austriaca)'' (smooth snake)]] {{div col|colwidth=21em}} * ''[Aeluroglena](/source/Aeluroglena)'' Boulenger, 1898 * ''[Aprosdoketophis](/source/Aprosdoketophis)'' Wallach, Lanza & Nistri, 2010 * ''[Archelaphe](/source/Archelaphe)'' Schulz, Böhme & Tillack, 2011 * ''[Argyrogena](/source/Argyrogena)'' Werner, 1924 * ''[Arizona](/source/Arizona_(snake))'' Kennicott, 1859 * ''[Bamanophis](/source/Bamanophis)'' Schätti & Trape, 2008 * ''[Bogertophis](/source/Bogertophis)'' Dowling & Price, 1988 * ''[Boiga](/source/Boiga)'' Fitzinger, 1826 * ''[Cemophora](/source/Cemophora)'' Cope, 1860 * ''[Chapinophis](/source/Chapinophis)'' Campbell & Smith, 1998 * ''[Chironius](/source/Chironius)'' Fitzinger, 1826 * ''[Coelognathus](/source/Coelognathus)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Coluber](/source/Coluber)'' [Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae) * ''[Colubroelaps](/source/Colubroelaps)'' Orlov, [Kharin](/source/Vladimir_Kharin_(zoologist)), Ananjeva, Thien Tao & Quang Truong, 2009 * ''[Conopsis](/source/Conopsis)'' Günther, 1858 * ''[Coronella](/source/Coronella)'' Laurenti, 1768 * ''[Crotaphopeltis](/source/Crotaphopeltis)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Dasypeltis](/source/Dasypeltis)'' Wagler, 1830 * ''[Dendrophidion](/source/Dendrophidion)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Dipsadoboa](/source/Dipsadoboa)'' Günther, 1858 * ''[Dispholidus](/source/Dispholidus)'' [Duvernoy](/source/Georges_Louis_Duvernoy), 1832 * ''[Dolichophis](/source/Dolichophis)'' Gistel, 1868 * ''[Drymarchon](/source/Drymarchon)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Drymobius](/source/Drymobius)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Drymoluber](/source/Drymoluber)'' Amaral, 1929 * ''[Eirenis](/source/Eirenis)'' Jan, 1862 * ''[Elachistodon](/source/Elachistodon)'' Reinhardt, 1863—subsumed by Boiga * ''[Elaphe](/source/Elaphe)'' Fitzinger ''in'' Wagler, 1833 * ''[Euprepiophis](/source/Euprepiophis)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Ficimia](/source/Ficimia)'' Gray, 1849 * ''[Geagras](/source/Geagras)'' Cope, 1876 * ''[Gonyosoma](/source/Gonyosoma)'' Wagler, 1828 * ''[Gyalopion](/source/Gyalopion)'' Cope, 1860 * ''[Hapsidophrys](/source/Hapsidophrys)'' Fischer, 1856 * ''[Hemerophis](/source/Hemerophis)'' Schätti & Utiger, 2001 * ''[Hemorrhois](/source/Hemorrhois)'' Boie, 1826 * ''[Hierophis](/source/Hierophis)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Lampropeltis](/source/Lampropeltis)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Leptodrymus](/source/Leptodrymus)'' Amaral, 1927 * ''[Leptophis](/source/Leptophis)'' Bell, 1825 * ''[Liopeltis](/source/Liopeltis)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Lycodon](/source/Lycodon)'' Fitzinger, 1826 * ''[Lytorhynchus](/source/Lytorhynchus)'' Peters, 1862 * ''[Macroprotodon](/source/Macroprotodon)'' Guichenot, 1850 * ''[Masticophis](/source/Masticophis)'' [Baird](/source/Spencer_Fullerton_Baird) & [Girard](/source/Charles_Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Girard), 1853 * ''[Mastigodryas](/source/Mastigodryas)'' Amaral, 1935 * ''[Meizodon](/source/Meizodon)'' Fischer, 1856 * ''[Mopanveldophis](/source/Mopanveldophis)'' Figueroa et al., 2016 * ''[Muhtarophis](/source/Muhtarophis)'' Avcı, Ilgaz, Rajabizadeh, Yılmaz, Üzüm, Adriaens, Kumlutaş & Olgun, 2015 * ''[Oligodon](/source/Oligodon)'' Fitzinger, 1826 * ''[Oocatochus](/source/Oocatochus)'' Helfenberger, 2001 * ''[Opheodrys](/source/Opheodrys)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Oreocryptophis](/source/Oreocryptophis)'' Utiger, Schätti & Helfenberger, 2005 * ''[Orientocoluber](/source/Orientocoluber)'' Kharin, 2011 * ''[Oxybelis](/source/Oxybelis)'' Wagler, 1830 * ''[Palusophis](/source/Palusophis)'' * ''[Pantherophis](/source/Pantherophis)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Persiophis](/source/Persiophis)'' Rajabizadeh, Pyron, Nazarov, Poyarkov, Adriaens, & Herrel, 2020 * ''[Philothamnus](/source/Philothamnus)'' Smith, 1840 * ''[Phrynonax](/source/Phrynonax)'' Cope, 1862 * ''[Phyllorhynchus](/source/Phyllorhynchus)'' Stejneger, 1890 * ''[Pituophis](/source/Pituophis)'' Holbrook, 1842 * ''[Platyceps](/source/Platyceps)'' Blyth, 1860 * ''[Pseudelaphe](/source/Pseudelaphe)'' Mertens & Rosenberg, 1943 * ''[Pseudoficimia](/source/Pseudoficimia)'' Bocourt, 1883 * ''[Ptyas](/source/Ptyas)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Rhamnophis](/source/Rhamnophis)'' Günther, 1862 * ''[Rhinobothryum](/source/Rhinobothryum)'' Wagler, 1830 * ''[Rhinocheilus](/source/Rhinocheilus)'' Baird & Girard, 1853 * ''[Rhynchocalamus](/source/Rhynchocalamus)'' Günther, 1864 * ''[Salvadora](/source/Salvadora_(snake))'' Baird & Girard, 1853 * ''[Scaphiophis](/source/Scaphiophis)'' Peters, 1870 * ''[Scolecophis](/source/Scolecophis)'' Fitzinger, 1843 * ''[Senticolis](/source/Senticolis)'' Campbell & Howell, 1965 * ''[Simophis](/source/Simophis)'' Peters, 1860 * ''[Sonora](/source/Sonora_(snake))'' Baird & Girard, 1843 * ''[Spalerosophis](/source/Spalerosophis)'' Jan, 1865 * ''[Spilotes](/source/Spilotes)'' Wagler, 1830 * ''[Stegonotus](/source/Stegonotus_(snake))'' Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 * ''[Stenorrhina](/source/Stenorrhina)'' Duméril, 1853 * ''[Stichophanes](/source/Stichophanes)'' Wang, Messenger, Zhao & Zhu, 2014 * ''[Symphimus](/source/Symphimus)'' Cope, 1869 * ''[Sympholis](/source/Sympholis)'' Cope, 1861 * ''[Tantilla](/source/Tantilla)'' Baird & Girard, 1853 * ''[Tantillita](/source/Tantillita)'' Smith, 1941 * ''[Telescopus](/source/Telescopus)'' Wagler, 1830 * ''[Thelotornis](/source/Thelotornis)'' Smith, 1849 * ''[Thrasops](/source/Thrasops)'' Hallowell, 1857 * ''[Toxicodryas](/source/Toxicodryas)'' Hallowell, 1857 * ''[Trimorphodon](/source/Trimorphodon)'' Cope, 1861 * ''[Wallaceophis](/source/Wallaceophis)'' Mirza, Vyas, Patel & Sanap, 2016 * ''[Wallophis](/source/Wallophis)'' Werner, 1929 * ''[Xenelaphis](/source/Xenelaphis)'' Günther, 1864 * ''[Xyelodontophis](/source/Xyelodontophis)'' Broadley & Wallach, 2002 * ''[Yakacoatl](/source/Yakacoatl)'' Cisneros-Bernal et al., 2025 * ''[Zamenis](/source/Zamenis)'' Wagler, 1830 {{div col end}} A group of 4 genera historically placed in Colubrinae have recently been called a separate subfamily, [Ahaetuliinae](/source/Ahaetuliinae), in a few analyses. These are ''[Ahaetulla](/source/Ahaetulla)'' Link, 1807, ''[Chrysopelea](/source/Chrysopelea)'' Boie, 1827, ''[Dendrelaphis](/source/Dendrelaphis)'' Boulenger, 1890, and ''[Dryophiops](/source/Dryophiops)'' Boulenger, 1896.{{cite journal |last1=Figueroa |first1=A. |last2=McKelvy |first2=A. D. |last3=Grismer |first3=L. L. |last4=Bell |first4=C. D. |last5=Lailvaux |first5=S. P. |title=A species-level phylogeny of extant snakes with description of a new colubrid subfamily and genus |journal=[PLOS ONE](/source/PLOS_ONE) |date=2016 |volume=11 |issue=9 |article-number=e0161070 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0161070 |pmid=27603205 |pmc=5014348 |bibcode=2016PLoSO..1161070F |doi-access=free}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1303330}} Category:Colubrinae Category:Taxa named by Nicolaus Michael Oppel Category:Snake subfamilies --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Colubrinae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colubrinae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colubrinae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.