Snakes Flashcards
Leptotyphlopidae
NA to SA, Africa, Middle East
Scolecophidia
mandibular raking- cloacal secretions that repel ants
found as deep as 49 ft
Anomalepididae
SA
Scolecophidia
maxillary raking
Typhlopidae
CA to SA, Africa, Madagascar, Middle East, South Asia, indo-australia
Scolecophidia
maxillary raking
Gerrhopilidae
India, SE Asian islands
Scolecophidia
maxillary raking
Xenotyphlopidae
Madagascar
Scolecophidia
maxillary raking
Aniliidae
SA
monotypic
batesian mimic- false coral snake
fossorial- retain vestigial hind limbs
Tropidophiidae
CA, SA forest floor predators most retain pelvic vestiges some spontaneously hemorrhage from eyes and mouth some have catatonic behavior
Boyleriidae
Round Island
extremely endangered
skink predation
Anomochilidae
Indonesia
little known- probably burrowers
Uropeltidae
South India, Sri Lanka
burrowers with soil plug tail
tail is shield to enemies and anchor while burrowing
Cylindrophiidae
SE Asia
burrowers, large prey
flattened tail
Xenopeltidae
SE Asia
sunbeam snake
nocturnal rainforest burrower
skink predation
Loxocemidae
Mexico, CA
terrestrial burrower, upturned snout
enigmatic- retain mosaic of primitive features
dwarf python
Pythonidae
Africa, SE Asia, indo australia australi-papuan origin oviparous- shivering behavior heat pits large!
Acrochoridae
SE Asian, indo-australia
highly aquatic
feed on fish- loose skin, conical scales, low metabolic rate
Boidae
NA to SA, Africa, Madagascar, Europe, Middle East, Asia, New Guinea
retain pelvic vestiges
infrared pits
constrictors- fossorial to arboreal
Boinae- new world, viviparous, arboreal
Erycinae- lack heat pits, rubber boas
Ungaliophiinae- new world, small, arboreal
Elapidae
NA to SA, Africa, Middle East, South Asia, indo australia
Colubroidea
shorter fangs
neurotoxic venom
Viperidae
NA to SA, Africa, Asia, Europe Colubroidea large triangular head arboreal or terrestrial ambush predator Solenoglyphous Viperinae- old world, no heat pit Croatalinae- new and old world pitvipers Azemiopinae- one speices- no pit
Colubridae
NA to SA, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia Colubroidea "wastebasket" Colubrinae- worldwide, North America Dipsadinae- new world Natricinae- worldwide, no SA
Xenophiidae
peninsular Malaysia and Borneo
nocturnal, secretive
hinged teeth- probably eat skinks
Xenodermatidae
India and SE Asia
Colubroidea
Lamprophiidae
Africa, Madagascar, Arabian peninsula (few species), SE Asia (one genus)
Colubroidea
mobile maxilla- swing head backward, stab with posterolaterally protruding fang!
Pareatidae
India and SE Asia
Colubroidea
Homalopsidae
India and SE Asia to northern Australia
Colubroidea
