Home›Reptiles›Taxonomy›ElapidaeTaxaElapidaeReptile FamiliesReference and ClassificationThoroughly VerifiedElapidae 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.FactsElapidaeConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsTaxonomic RankWell-attestedFamily 1Scientific NameWell-attestedElapidae 1Member Species/Taxa CountWell-attested360 1Source states the figure as approximate: around 360 species and over 170 subspecies across 55 genera.Geographic DistributionWell-attestedTerrestrial elapids are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. 1Defining CharacteristicsWell-attestedMost elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydocephalus. 1Era First AppearedWell-attestedPaleogene 3IdentificationDistinguishing AppearanceWell-attestedTerrestrial elapids look similar to the Colubridae; almost all have long, slender bodies with smooth scales, large head shields and rounded pupils. 1ClassificationLiving or ExtinctWell-attestedYes 2ElapidaeFilter Results6 entriesCommon GroupAllSnakes (Serpentes) (6)Everyday GroupAllSnakes (Serpentes) (6)HabitatAllChaparral (1)Desert (1)Grassland (1)Intertidal Zone (1)Marine (1)Riparian Zone (1)Savanna (3)Temperate Forest (1)Where It LivesAllAfrica (1)Australia (4)Colombia (1)Mexico (1)New Zealand (1)North America (2)South America (1)South Asia (3)Conservation StatusAllLeast Concern (5)Vulnerable (1)DietAllCarnivore (5)Piscivore (1)System (Realm)AllMarine (2)Terrestrial (4)Living or ExtinctAllYes (6)Relationship to PeopleAllHunted or Fished (1)Kept as Pets (1)Used in Traditional Medicine (1)Venomous or Dangerous to Humans (3)CITES AppendixAllAppendix II (1)Not Listed (5)NatureServe RankAllG5 Secure (2)EcosystemAllCoral Reef Systems (1)Sundarbans (1)Western Ghats (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 6Banded Sea KraitElapidaeCoastal TaipanElapidaeCoral SnakeElapidaeInland TaipanElapidaeKing CobraElapidaeYellow-bellied Sea SnakeElapidaeConnectionsParent Taxon OfBanded Sea Krait, Species Well-attested Source Yellow-lipped sea krait (Wikidata)tier 2Coastal Taipan, Species Well-attested Source Coastal taipan (Wikidata)tier 2Coral Snake, Species Well-attested Source Coral Snake (Wikipedia)Hydrophis caerulescens, Species Well-attested Source Hydrophis caerulescens (Wikipedia)Hydrophis viperinus, Species Well-attested Source Hydrophis viperinus (Wikipedia)Inland Taipan, Species Well-attested Source Inland taipan (Wikidata)tier 2King Cobra, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: King Cobratier 2Northern mangrove seasnake, Species Well-attested Source Northern mangrove seasnake (Wikipedia)Yellow-bellied Sea Snake, Species Well-attested Source Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Wikidata)tier 2In the Other AtlasesFound InAfricaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.AsiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.AustraliaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Sources1. Elapidae (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaLead section, first sentenceElapidae (, 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 sentenceThe family includes 55 genera with around 360 species and over 170 subspecies.Lead section, second sentenceMost elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydocephalus.Description section, first sentenceTerrestrial 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 sentenceTerrestrial elapids are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.In Group: Snake Families (Serpentes), LeadElapidae (, 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.View the Source2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)tier 2Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ186554, descriptionView the Source3. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for ElapidaePaleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)"taxon_name": "Elapidae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 56 ... "early_interval": "Ypresian"View the SourceWikidata: ElapidaeWikidata Q186554, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceCatalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for ElapidaeCatalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount"speciesExtantCount": 412Wikidata: King Cobratier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: King Cobra, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceYellow-bellied Sea Snake (Wikidata)tier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Yellow-bellied Sea Snake, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceYellow-lipped sea krait (Wikidata)tier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Banded Sea Krait, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceInland taipan (Wikidata)tier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Inland Taipan, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceCoastal taipan (Wikidata)tier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Coastal Taipan, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceNorthern mangrove seasnake (Wikipedia)Parent Taxon Of: Northern mangrove seasnake, Lead, familyQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Northern mangrove seasnake, Lead, familyis a species of venomous snake in the family ElapidaeView the SourceHydrophis viperinus (Wikipedia)Parent Taxon Of: Hydrophis viperinus, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Hydrophis viperinus, Leadis a species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae (Hydrophiinae).View the SourceHydrophis caerulescens (Wikipedia)Parent Taxon Of: Hydrophis caerulescens, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Hydrophis caerulescens, Leadis a species of venomous sea snake in the family ElapidaeView the SourceCoral Snake (Wikipedia)Parent Taxon Of: Coral Snake, TaxoboxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Coral Snake, TaxoboxWikipedia taxobox field: parent = ElapidaeView the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. 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