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Taxa

Elapidae

Reptile Families

Elapidae is a family of snakes, commonly known as elapids, characterized by permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. The family comprises roughly 55 genera and about 360 species, nearly all venomous with the single exception of the genus Emydocephalus, ranging in size from the 18 centimeter white-lipped snake to the 5.85 meter king cobra. Elapids inhabit tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with terrestrial species across Asia, Australia, Africa and the Americas and marine forms in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Family 1
Scientific Name
Elapidae 1
Member Species/Taxa Count
360 1
Source states the figure as approximate: around 360 species and over 170 subspecies across 55 genera.
Geographic Distribution
Terrestrial elapids are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. 1
Defining Characteristics
Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydocephalus. 1
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Terrestrial elapids look similar to the Colubridae; almost all have long, slender bodies with smooth scales, large head shields and rounded pupils. 1
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Banded Sea Krait, Species
Source Yellow-lipped sea krait (Wikidata)
Coastal Taipan, Species
Source Coastal taipan (Wikidata)
Coral Snake, Species
Source Coral Snake (Wikipedia)
Inland Taipan, Species
Source Inland taipan (Wikidata)
King Cobra, Species
Source Wikidata: King Cobra
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake, Species
Source Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Wikidata)
In the Other Atlases
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Africa, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Asia, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Australia, found in there.
Sources
1. Elapidae (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Lead section, first sentence
    Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids , from Ancient Greek: ἔλαψ élaps, variant of ἔλλοψ éllops "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth.
  • Lead section, last sentence
    The family includes 55 genera with around 360 species and over 170 subspecies.
  • Lead section, second sentence
    Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydocephalus.
  • Description section, first sentence
    Terrestrial elapids look similar to the Colubridae; almost all have long, slender bodies with smooth scales, a head covered with large shields (and not always distinct from the neck), and eyes with rounded pupils.
  • Distribution section, first sentence
    Terrestrial elapids are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.
View the Source
2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ186554, descriptionView the Source
Wikidata: Elapidae
Wikidata Q186554, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Wikidata: King Cobra
WikidataParent Taxon Of: King Cobra, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Yellow-bellied Sea Snake, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Yellow-lipped sea krait (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Banded Sea Krait, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Inland taipan (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Inland Taipan, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Coastal taipan (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Coastal Taipan, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Coral Snake (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Coral Snake, Taxobox
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Coral Snake, Taxobox
Wikipedia taxobox field: parent = Elapidae
View the Source
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