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snake, (suborder Serpentes), any of more than 3,400 species of reptiles distinguished by their limbless condition and greatly elongated body and tail. Classified with lizards in the order Squamata, snakes represent a lizard that, over the course of evolution, has undergone structural reduction, simplification, and loss as well as specialization ...
There are nearly 3,000 species of snakes distributed nearly worldwide. The following is a list of some of the major genera and species of snake, organized alphabetically by family. Sometimes listed as a subfamily of the boa family (Boidae).
Garter snake, any of about 35 species of nonvenomous snakes having a striped pattern suggesting a garter: typically, one or three longitudinal yellow to red stripes, between which are checkered blotches. Forms in which the stripes are obscure or lacking are often called grass snakes.
Coral snake, any of more than 100 species of small, secretive, and brightly patterned venomous snakes of the cobra family (Elapidae). Most species are tricolored (rarely bicolored), with various combinations of red, black, and yellow or white rings.
Hognose snake, any of up to five species of North American nonvenomous snakes belonging to the family Colubridae. Named for its upturned snout, which it uses for digging, the hognose snake strikes at perceived threats with a loud hiss but rarely bites.
Sea snake, any of more than 60 species of highly venomous marine snakes of the cobra family (Elapidae). There are two groups: the true sea snakes (subfamily Hydrophiinae) and the sea kraits (subfamily Laticaudinae). Although their venom is the most potent of all snakes, human fatalities are rare.
King cobra, (Ophiophagus hannah), the world’s largest venomous snake, found predominantly in forests from India through Southeast Asia to the Philippines and Indonesia. The snake’s maximum confirmed length is 5.6 metres (18 feet), but most do not exceed 3.6 metres (12 feet).
The rattle, presumably a warning device, is composed of horny, loosely connected hollow segments, one of which is added every time the snake sheds its skin. The age of a rattlesnake cannot be determined from the number of its rattle segments, as rattlesnakes usually shed three or four times a year.
The name anaconda refers to any of three to five species of large, constricting, water-loving snakes that are found in tropical South America and are classified in the family Boidae.
black mamba, (Dendroaspis polylepis), species of mamba snake known for its large size, quickness, and extremely potent venom. It lives in sub-Saharan Africa and is one of the continent’s most dangerous snakes.