Family Colubridae
(colubrids)

Confused by a class within a class or an order within an order? Please see our brief essay.

Scientific names for Aves taxonomy (family and below) are from The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, Princeton University Press, copyright 2003. Used by permission.

• Parent taxa
  
  
  
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  Superfamily Xenophidia (colubrids, vipers, and relatives)
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  Family Colubridae (colubrids)
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  Genus Achalinus (odd-scaled snakes)
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  Genus Adelophis (meadow snakes)
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  Genus Adelphicos (American burrowing snakes)
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  Genus Aeluroglena
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  Genus Afronatrix (African brown water snakes)
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  Genus Ahaetulla (Asian longnose whipsnakes)
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  Genus Alluaudina
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  Genus Alsophis (West Indian racers)
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  Genus Amastridium (rustyhead snakes)
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  Genus Amphiesma (keelbacks)
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  Genus Amphiesmoides (ornate snakes)
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  Genus Amplorhinus (many-spotted snakes)
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  Genus Anoplohydrus
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  Genus Antillophis (Antillean snakes)
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  Genus Aplopeltura (blunthead slug snakes)
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  Genus Apostolepis (burrowing snakes)
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  Genus Argyrogena
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  Genus Arizona (glossy snakes)
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  Genus Arrhyton (Island racers and West Indian garden snakes)
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  Genus Aspidura (rough-sided snakes)
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  Genus Atractus (ground snakes)
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  Genus Atretium (keelbacks)
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  Genus Balanophis
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  Genus Bitia
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  Genus Blythia (reticulate snakes)
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  Genus Bogertophis (desert rat snakes)
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  Genus Boiga (boigas and mangrove snakes)
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  Genus Boiruna
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  Genus Bothrolycus (Gunther's black snake)
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  Genus Bothrophthalmus (red-black striped snake)
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  Genus Brachyorrhos
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  Genus Brygophis
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  Genus Buhoma
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  Genus Calamaria (dwarf snakes)
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  Genus Calamodontophis (tropical forest snake)
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  Genus Calamorhabdium (irridescent snakes)
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  Genus Cantoria (water snakes)
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  Genus Carphophis (worm snakes)
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  Genus Cemophora (scarlet snakes)
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  Genus Cerberus (dog-faced water snakes)
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  Genus Cercaspis (wolf snake)
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  Genus Cercophis (golden snake)
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  Genus Chamaelycus (banded snakes)
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  Genus Chapinophis
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  Genus Chersodromus (earth runners)
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  Genus Chilomeniscus (sand snakes)
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  Genus Chionactis (shovel-nosed snakes)
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  Genus Chironius (sipos)
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  Genus Chrysopelea (flying tree snakes)
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  Genus Clelia (mussuranas)
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  Genus Clonophis (Kirtland's snakes)
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  Genus Collorhabdium (reed snakes)
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  Genus Coluber (racers)
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  Genus Compsophis (Madagascar bighead snakes)
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  Genus Coniophanes (black-striped snakes)
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  Genus Conophis (road guarders)
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  Genus Conopsis
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  Genus Contia (sharp-tailed snakes)
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  Genus Coronella
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  Genus Crisantophis (Dunn's road guarders)
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  Genus Crotaphopeltis (tropical water snakes)
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  Genus Cryophis
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  Genus Cryptophidion (secret snakes)
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  Genus Cyclocorus (lined snakes)
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  Genus Cyclophiops (green snakes)
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  Genus Darlingtonia
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  Genus Dasypeltis (egg-eating snakes)
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  Genus Dendrelaphis (Asian tree snakes and bronzebacks)
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  Genus Dendrolycus (rainforest snakes)
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  Genus Dendrophidion (forest racers)
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  Genus Diadophis (ring-necked snakes)
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  Genus Diaphorolepis (frog-eating snakes)
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  Genus Dinodon (big-tooth snakes)
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  Genus Dipsadoboa (tree snakes)
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  Genus Dipsas (snail-eaters)
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  Genus Dipsina
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  Genus Dispholidus (boomslang)
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  Genus Ditaxodon (Hensel's snake)
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  Genus Ditypophis (Gunther's racer)
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  Genus Drepanoides (black-collared snake)
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  Genus Dromicodryas (striped snakes)
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  Genus Dromophis (Olympic snakes)
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  Genus Dryadophis (forest racers)
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  Genus Drymarchon (indigo snakes)
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  Genus Drymobius (neotropical racers and speckled racers)
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  Genus Drymoluber (woodland racers)
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  Genus Dryocalamus (bridal snakes)
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  Genus Dryophiops (whip snakes)
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  Genus Duberria (slug-eaters)
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  Genus Echinanthera
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  Genus Eirenis (dwarf racers)
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  Genus Elachistodon (Indian egg-eating snake)
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  Genus Elaphe (corn snakes, fox snakes, and rat snakes)
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  Genus Elapoidis
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  Genus Elapomorphus (diadem snakes)
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  Genus Emmochliophis (Pinchinda snakes)
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  Genus Enhydris (rainbow water snakes)
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  Genus Enuliophis (Colombia longtail snake)
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  Genus Enulius (Mexican longtail snakes)
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  Genus Eridiphas (Baja California night snakes)
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  Genus Erpeton (tentacled snake)
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  Genus Erythrolamprus (coral snake mimics)
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  Genus Etheridgeum (Sumatra etheridge snake)
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  Genus Exallodontophis
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  Genus Farancia (mud snakes and rainbow snakes)
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  Genus Ficimia (southern hook-nosed snakes)
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  Genus Fimbrios (bearded snake)
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  Genus Fordonia (white-belly mangrove snake)
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  Genus Gastropyxis (emerald snake)
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  Genus Geagras
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  Genus Geodipsas (African forest snakes)
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  Genus Geophis (Latin American earth snakes)
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  Genus Gerarda (Gerard's water snake)
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  Genus Gomesophis (Brazilian burrowing snake)
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  Genus Gongylosoma
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  Genus Gonionotophis (African ground snakes)
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  Genus Gonyophis (rainbow tree snake)
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  Genus Gonyosoma (redtail rat snakes)
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  Genus Grayia (African water snakes)
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  Genus Gyalopion (desert hooknose snakes)
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  Genus Haplocercus (Ceylon keelback)
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  Genus Hapsidophrys (black-lined green snake)
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  Genus Helicops (mountain keelbacks)
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  Genus Helophis (sun snake)
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  Genus Hemirhagerrhis
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  Genus Heterodon (hog-nosed snakes)
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  Genus Heteroliodon (Madagascar snakes)
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  Genus Heurnia (Mamberamo River snake)
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  Genus Hologerrhum (Philippine stripe-lipped snake)
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  Genus Homalopsis (masked water snake)
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  Genus Hormonotus (Uganda house snake)
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  Genus Hydrablabes (small-eyed snakes)
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  Genus Hydraethiops (black-belly snakes)
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  Genus Hydrodynastes (false water snakes)
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  Genus Hydromorphus (tropical water snakes)
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  Genus Hydrops (Amazon water snakes)
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  Genus Hypsiglena (night snakes)
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  Genus Hypsirhynchus (Hispaniola cat-eyed snake)
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  Genus Ialtris (fanged snakes)
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  Genus Iguanognathus (spatula-tooth snake)
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  Genus Imantodes (Central American tree snakes)
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  Genus Internatus (slug snakes)
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  Genus Ithycyphus (forest night snakes)
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  Genus Lampropeltis (kingsnakes and milk snakes)
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  Genus Lamprophis (house snakes)
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  Genus Langaha (leafnose snakes)
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  Genus Leioheterodon (Madagascar brown snakes)
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  Genus Leptodeira (cat-eyed snakes)
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  Genus Leptodrymus (striped lowland snake)
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  Genus Leptophis (parrot snakes)
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  Genus Limnophis (striped swamp snake)
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  Genus Liochlorophis (smooth green snakes)
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  Genus Lioheterophis (Ihering's snake)
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  Genus Liopeltis (reed snakes)
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  Genus Liophidium (bright snakes)
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  Genus Liophis (Amazon ground snakes)
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  Genus Liopholidophis (Madagascar water snakes)
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  Genus Lycodon (wolf snakes)
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  Genus Lycodonomorphus (African water snakes)
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  Genus Lycodryas (banded tree snakes)
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  Genus Lycophidion (African wolf snakes)
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  Genus Lystrophis (South American hognose snakes)
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  Genus Lytorhynchus (leafnose snakes)
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  Genus Macrocalamus (mountain reed snakes)
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  Genus Macropisthodon (varied keelbacks)
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  Genus Macroprotodon (false smooth snake)
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  Genus Madagascarophis (Madagascar common snakes)
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  Genus Malpolon (Montpelier snakes)
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  Genus Manolepis (ridgehead snake)
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  Genus Masticophis (coachwhips and whipsnakes)
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  Genus Mastigodryas (tropical racers)
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  Genus Mehelya (file snakes)
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  Genus Meizodon (crowned snakes)
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  Genus Micropisthodon (flathead snake)
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  Genus Mimophis (big-eyed snake)
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  Genus Montaspis
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  Genus Myersophis
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  Genus Myron (Richardson's mangrove snake)
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  Genus Natriciteres (marsh snakes)
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  Genus Natrix (grass snakes)
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  Genus Nerodia (water snakes)
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  Genus Ninia (common coffee snakes)
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  Genus Nothopsis (rough coffee snake)
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  Genus Oligodon (Kukri snakes)
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  Genus Opheodrys (rough green snake)
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  Genus Opisthotropis
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  Genus Oreocalamus (Kalimantan burrowing snake)
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  Genus Oxybelis (vine snakes)
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  Genus Oxyrhabdium (shrub snakes)
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  Genus Oxyrhopus (false coral snakes)
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  Genus Parahelicops
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  Genus Pararhabdophis (Vietnam water snake)
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  Genus Pararhadinaea
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  Genus Pareas (Asian slug snakes)
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  Genus Phalotris
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  Genus Philodryas (green racers)
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  Genus Philothamnus (African green snakes)
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  Genus Phimophis (pampas snakes)
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  Genus Phyllorhynchus (leaf-nosed snakes)
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  Genus Pituophis (bullsnakes, gopher snakes, and pine snakes)
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  Genus Plagiopholis (Chinese mountain snakes)
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  Genus Pliocercus (common false coral snakes)
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  Genus Poecilopholis (Cameroon racer)
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  Genus Prosymna (shovelsnout snakes)
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  Genus Psammodynastes (mock vipers)
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  Genus Psammophis (sand racers)
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  Genus Psammophylax (skaapstekers)
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  Genus Pseudablabes (burrowing night snake)
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  Genus Pseudaspis
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  Genus Pseudoboa (false boas)
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  Genus Pseudoboodon (banded snakes)
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  Genus Pseudocyclophis (dwarf racer)
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  Genus Pseudoeryx (pond snake)
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  Genus Pseudoficimia (false ficimia)
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  Genus Pseudoleptodeira (false cat-eyed snakes)
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  Genus Pseudorabdion (dwarf reed snakes)
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  Genus Pseudotomodon (false tomodon snake)
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  Genus Pseudoxenodon (bamboo snakes)
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  Genus Pseudoxyrhopus (brook snakes)
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  Genus Pseustes (puffing snakes)
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  Genus Psomophis (spirit ground snakes)
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  Genus Ptyas (Indian rat snakes)
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  Genus Ptychophis (fanged water snake)
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  Genus Pythonodipsas (western keeled snake)
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  Genus Rabdion
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  Genus Regina (crayfish snakes)
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  Genus Rhabdophis (Asian keelbacks)
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  Genus Rhabdops (trapezoid snakes)
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  Genus Rhachidelus (Brazilian bird snake)
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  Genus Rhadinaea (graceful brown snakes and woodlands snakes)
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  Genus Rhadinophanes (graceful mountain snake)
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  Genus Rhamnophis
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  Genus Rhamphiophis (beaked snakes)
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  Genus Rhinobothryum (banded snakes)
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  Genus Rhinocheilus (long-nosed snakes)
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  Genus Rhynchocalamus
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  Genus Rhynchophis
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  Genus Salvadora (patch-nosed snakes)
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  Genus Saphenophis (saphenophis snakes)
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  Genus Scaphiodontophis (neckband snakes)
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  Genus Scaphiophis (gray beaked snakes)
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  Genus Scolecophis (black-banded snake)
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  Genus Scopelophis
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  Genus Seminatrix (swamp snakes)
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  Genus Senticolis (green rat snake)
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  Genus Sibon (snail suckers)
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  Genus Sibynomorphus (South American tree snakes)
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  Genus Sibynophis (many-tooth snakes)
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  Genus Simophis (snouted snakes)
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  Genus Sinonatrix (Asiatic water snakes)
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  Genus Siphlophis (spotted night snakes)
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  Genus Sonora (North American ground snakes)
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  Genus Sordellina (dotted brown snake)
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  Genus Spalerosophis (diadem snakes)
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  Genus Spilotes (tropical rat snake)
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  Genus Stegonotus
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  Genus Stenophis
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  Genus Stenorrhina
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  Genus Stilosoma (short-tailed snakes)
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  Genus Stoliczkaia (red snakes)
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  Genus Storeria (common brown snakes)
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  Genus Symphimus (white-lipped snakes)
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  Genus Sympholis
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  Genus Synophis (fishing snakes)
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  Genus Tachymenis (slender snakes)
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  Genus Taeniophallus (forest snake)
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  Genus Tantalophis (Oaxacan cat-eyed snake)
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  Genus Tantilla (black-headed snakes and centipede snakes)
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  Genus Tantillita (dwarf short-tailed snakes)
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  Genus Telescopus (tiger snakes)
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  Genus Tetralepis (Java snake)
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  Genus Thamnodynastes (coastal housesnakes)
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  Genus Thamnophis (garter snakes and ribbon snakes)
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  Genus Thelotornis (bird snakes)
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  Genus Thermophis (Bailey's snake)
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  Genus Thrasops (black tree snakes)
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  Genus Toluca (Tolucan ground snakes)
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  Genus Tomodon
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  Genus Toxicodryas
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  Genus Trachischium (worm-eating snakes)
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  Genus Tretanorhinus (striped swamp snakes)
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  Genus Trimetopon (tropical ground snakes)
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  Genus Trimorphodon (lyre snakes)
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  Genus Tropidoclonion (lined snake)
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  Genus Tropidodipsas
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  Genus Tropidodryas (Serra snakes)
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  Genus Tropidonophis (eastern keelbacks)
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  Genus Umbrivaga (tropical forest snakes)
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  Genus Uromacer (pointed snakes)
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  Genus Uromacerina (Sao Paulo sharp snake)
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  Genus Urotheca (twin coral snakes)
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  Genus Virginia (earth snakes)
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  Genus Waglerophis (Wagler's snake)
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  Genus Xenelaphis (Malaysian brown snakes)
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  Genus Xenochrophis (painted keelbacks)
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  Genus Xenodermus
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  Genus Xenodon (false fer-de-lances)
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  Genus Xenophidion
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  Genus Xenopholis (scaled ground snakes)
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  Genus Xenoxybelis
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  Genus Xylophis (mountain snakes)