Question

[NaughtyDawg]

I am not very educated in snakes (among many other things), but what distinguishes a colubrid from other families of snakes?

 

[Gregg M]

what distinguishes a colubrid from other families of snakes?

COLUBRIDAE (colubrid snakes)
The Colubrid snakes are sometimes refered to as "typical snakes". They comprise the largest family by far with over 2000 species worldwide. Most are medium sized snakes, and all lack a pelvic girdle and have no vestigial hind limbs and whose left lung is either absent or greatly reduced. Most species are considered members of two large subfamilies, Colubrinae and Natricinae which are distinguished by the presence (Natricinae) or absence (Colubrinae) of spines on the lumbar vertebrae. Both subfamilies contain over 200 genera. There are 102 species of Colubrid snakes found in North America.

There are some very venomous rear fanged snakes that are classified as colubrids including the boom slang and stiletto snake.... A number of colubrids have toxic saliva but lack the delivery system....

 

[robin]

don't forget mangs and fwcs gregg