Xenophidia
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| Xenophidia | |
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| King Cobra, an elapid. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Superfamily: | Xenophidia |
| Families | |
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See text. |
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Xenophidia (Caenophidia) is a superfamily of the suborder Serpentes (snakes) that contains cobras, vipers, sea snakes and the majority of snake species. Almost all venomous snakes belong to this superfamily. Additionally, the broad belly scales and rows of dorsal scales correspond to the vertebrae in Caenophidians, while they do not in Henophidians or Scolecophidians.
Caenophidia contains most of the diversity of extant snakes, with over 3,000 species. They are believed to be a recent (Greek prefix caeno- = recent) evolutionary radiation, having evolved in the mid-Cenozoic.
[edit] Families
- Atractaspididae (mole vipers).
- Colubridae (rear-fanged snakes).
- Elapidae (cobras, mambas, coral snakes and kraits).
- Hydrophiidae (sea snakes).
- Viperidae (vipers, pit vipers and rattlesnakes).
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