Added August 28 2004. Last updated 23 May 2007: added link to Amastridium.

The Colubridae: A Species Listing

Introduction

The following is an alphabetical listing of genera in the Colubridae family. This is mainly for the sake of completeness as it will take some time to cover even a quarter of these in any detail. We have however put links to some of the most popular groups (rat snakes, garter snakes and kingsnakes and milksnakes). Placement within the subfamilies is also difficult with some genera, but we have tentatively done so and noted any dispute. Please refer to the excellent EMBL database page for clarification on some of these issues. Herpbreeder.dk also has a good listing.

Blank fields for the common name mean either that there is no common name for the species or else a multiplicity of names which bear no relation to one another. More accurate distribution details will be placed on the page dedicated to the particular genus. The Notes section is fairly sparse for the simple reason that even the subfamily placement or the validity of the genus is questioned for some genera.

Although few of the colubrids are dangerously venomous, not all are suitable as captives. In particular some have dietary needs that are hard to meet, such as lizards, frogs or toads, while others, such as those known commonly as racers of one sort or another, are fast and often highly-strung. Elaphe, Lampropeltis, Thamnophis and Pituophis remain the most popular, and (in the main) the easiest and sometimes most responsive captives. Lamprophis, at least in the species L. fuliginosus, are also fairly easy and straightforward. Heterodon are quite popular but mostly have a toad-based diet which may deter some. Many of the attractive green snakes (eg Philothamnus, Hapsidophrys) fall into the category of lizard- and frog-eaters and are thus beyond most people's means, although the slender Opheophrys of North America are insectivorous and can make good captives if treated properly (see deVosjoli's manual on the subject).

It should also be noted that colubrids from Brazil and Australia are not generally available to the private keeper due to the export restrictions from those countries.

Owing to the huge size of the family and the probability that there will be further rearrangements within it, we have simply used an alphabetical Quick Index on this page, rather than making a shortcut for each genus.

QUICK INDEX
A B C D E F G H IJK L M
N O PQ R S T U V W XYZ  

Genus Common Name Distribution Species Notes
Achalinus Odd-Scaled Snakes Vietnam, Japan, China, Taiwan 9  
Adelophis  Mountain Meadow Snakes Mexico  2  
Adelphicos American Burrowing Snakes  Mexico and Central America 6  
Aeluroglena    Horn of Africa  
Afronatrix African Brown Water Snake W Africa 1  
Ahaetulla   India, SE Asia 8  
Alluaudina   Madagascar 2  
Alsophis Racers Caribbean, N South America and Galapagos Islands 13  
Amastridium Rustyhead Snake Mexico and C America 1  
Amphiesma Keelbacks Siberia, Korea, China, Indian subcontinent, Indochina, SE Asia, Japan, Indonesia 38  
Amphiesmoides Werner's Ornate Snake China 1  
Amplorhinus Cape Reed Snake RSA and Zimbabwe 1  
Anoplohydrus   Indonesia 1  
Antillophis   Cuba and Hispaniola 2  
Apostolepis Burrowing Snakes South America (not Chile) 24  
Aplopeltura Blunthead Slug-Snake SE Asia 1  
Argyrogena Banded Racer India 1-2  
Arizona Glossy Snake North America 1  
Arrhyton Island Racers  Caribbean  13  
Aspidura Rough-Sided Snakes Sri Lanka 6  
Asthenodipsas       No information available
Atractus Ground Snakes South America and Panama 96  
Atretium Olive Keelbacks China and Indian subcontinent 2  
Balanophis Sri Lankan Keelback Blossom Krait Sri Lanka   
Bitia Keel-Bellied Water Snake Burma, Thailand, Malaysia  
Blythia Blyth's Reticulate Snake  India, China and Burma   
Bogertophis Trans-Peco and Baja California Ratsnakes  USA and Mexico   
Boiga Cat Snakes, Tree Snakes and Mangrove Snakes  W & E Africa, C Asia, Iran, Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, SE Asia, China, New Guinea, Australia, Oceania  32   
Boiruna   Brazil   
Bothrolycus Günther's Black Snake  W Africa including Congo 1  
Bothropthalmus Red-Black Striped Snake W Africa including Congo  
Brachyorrhos   Indonesia  1  
Brygophis   Madagascar   
Buhoma   W & E Africa inc. Congo   3  
Calamaria Dwarf and Reed Snakes  India, SE Asia, China, Indian Ocean, Japan 51   
Calamodontophis Tropical Forest Snake  Brazil  
Calamorhabdium Iridescent Snakes  Indonesia  2  
Cantoria Banded and Cantor's Water Snakes India, SE Asia, New Guinea  2  
Carphophis Worm Snakes  USA  2  
Cemophora Scarlet Snake USA   
Cerberus Dog-Faced Water Snakes Indian subcontinent, SE Asia inc. Philippines, New Guinea and Australia   
Cercaspis Ceylon Wolf Snake Sri Lanka   
Cercophis Tropical Forest Snake  Brazil   
Chamaelycus Banded Snakes  W Africa inc. Congo  
Chersodromus Earth Runners Mexico and Guatemala   
Chilomeniscus Sand Snakes USA and Mexico   
Chionactis Shovel-Nosed Snakes USA and Mexico  3  
Chironius Sipos Central and South America, Lesser Antilles  13  
Chrysopelea Flying Snakes  India, SE Asia, China   
Clelia Mussuranas Central and South America and Antilles  9  
Clonophis Road Guarders  Mexico, Central America, poss. Colombia  
Clonophis Kirtland's Snake USA   
Collorhabdium Mountain Dwarf Snake  W Malaysia  1  
Coluber Whip Snakes, Racers Europe, North America, North Africa, Middle East inc. Arabia and Gulf, Russia, C Asia, Indian subcontinent, Horn of Africa, E Africa, Mongolia, China, poss. Namibia  36   
Compsophis Malagasy Bighead Snake Madagascar   
Coniophanes Garden Snakes/Black-Striped Snakes  USA, Mexico, Central and South America  13   
Conopsis Ground Snakes, Earth Snake Mexico 6  
Contia Sharptail Snake  USA   
Coronella Smooth Snakes Europe, Caucasus, Asia Minor and Iran, India  3  
Crisantophis Dunn's Road Guarder Central America   
Crotaphopeltis Herald Snakes Sub-Saharan Africa  
Cryophis Hallberg's Cloud Forest Snake Mexico   
Cryptophidion       No information available
Cyclocorus Triangle-Spotted Snakes Philippines   
Cyclophiops Green Snakes China, India, SE Asia, Japan   
Darlingtonia Haitian Ground Snake Hispaniola  1  
Dasypeltis African Egg-Eating Snakes Africa (not Sahara)  5  
Dendrelaphis Bronzebacks and Tree Snakes  Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Australia 20   
Dendrolycus Cameroon Rainforest Snake Congo basin and Cameroon   
Dendrophidion Forest Racers  Central and South America   
Diadophis Ringneck Snakes  North America  
Diaphorolepis Frog-Eating Snakes  Colombia, Ecuador and Panama   
Dinodon Big-Toothed Snakes  India, SE Asia, China, Japan  
Dipsadoboa Tree Snakes  Sub-Saharan Africa 11  
Dipsas Snail-Eaters Mexico, Central and South America  32  
Dipsina Dwarf/Western Beaked Snake SW Africa   
Dispholidus Boomslang Sub-Saharan Africa  Dangerously venomous 
Ditaxodon Hensel's Snake Brazil and Peru   
Ditypophis Günther's Racer  Socotra Island (Yemen)   
Drepanoides Black-Collared Snake South America 1  
Dromicodryas Striped Snakes Madagascar   
Dromophis Striped Swamp Snake Sub-Saharan Africa  
Dryadophis Lizard Eaters  Mexico and Central America, poss. Colombia   
Drymarchon Cribos and Indigo Snakes  USA, Mexico, Central and South America 4  
Drymobius Racers USA, Mexico, Central America, South America 4  
Drymoluber Woodland Racers South America  2  
Dryocalamus Bridal Snakes  India and SE Asia   
Dryophiops Whipsnakes SE Asia   
Duberria Slug Eaters  Congo basin, E and S Africa  2  
Echinanthera   South America  12   
Eirenis Dwarf Racers Asia Minor, Caucasus, Middle East, E Africa, Pakistan  17  
Elachistodon Indian Egg-Eating Snake  India, Bangladesh, Nepal   
Elaphe Rat Snakes  Europe, N America, Asia  38   
Elapoidis   Indonesia 1  
Elapomorphus Diadem/Lizard-Eating Snakes South America  5 Venomous 
Emmochliophis Pinchinda Snakes Ecuador   
Enhydris Water Snakes Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia, Australia  21  
Enuliophis Colombian Longtail Snake  Central America   
Enulius Longtail Snakes  Mexico and Central America   
Eridiphas Baja California Night Snake Mexico   
Erpeton Tentacle Snake Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam    
Erythrolamprus False Coral Snakes  Central and South America   
Etheridgeum Sumatra Etheridge Snake Indonesia   
Exallodontophis   Madagascar  
Farancia Mud and Rainbow Snakes  USA   
Ficimia Hooknose Snakes USA, Mexico and Central America   
Fimbrios Bearded Snake Cambodia and Vietnam 1  
Fordonia Crab-Eating Water Snake  Indian subcontinent, SE Asia, Papua New Guinea and Australia  
Gastropyxis Emerald Snake W & E Africa  May instead be considered a species of Hapsidophrys: see the latter page.
Geagras Tehuantepec Striped Snake  Mexico   
Geodipsas Forest Snakes  Madagascar  5  
Geophis Earth Snakes  Mexico, Central America and Colombia 43  
Gerardia Gerard's/Cat-Eyed Water Snake  Indian subcontinent and SE Asia   
Gomesophis Brazilian Burrowing Snake Brazil   
Gongylosoma Ringnecks  SE Asia and Nicobar Islands  5  
Gonionotophis African Ground Snakes W Africa   
Gonyophis Rainbow Tree Snake SE Asia   
Gonyosoma   Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia   
Grayia African Water Snakes W, C and E Africa   
Gyalopion Hooknose Snake  USA and Mexico   
Haplocercus Ceylon Keelback Sri Lanka   
Hapsidophrys Black-Lined Green Snake  W & E Africa 1-2  
Helicops Keelbacks South America  15   
Helophis Schouteden's Sun Snake  Congo   
Hemirhagerrhis Bark/Mopane Snakes  Sub-Saharan Africa   
Hemorrhois   Europe and N Africa Former Coluber species
Heterodon Hog-Nosed Snakes  Canada, USA and Mexico   
Heteroliodon   Madagascar   
Heurnia Mamberano River Water Snake  Indonesia   
Hierophis Racers S Europe, Balkans, S Russia, Caucasus, Middle East, N China, Korea   
Hologerrhum   Philippines   
Homalopsis Puff-Faced Water Snake Indian subcontinent, SE Asia  1  
Hormonotus Uganda House Snake  W & E Africa   
Hydrablabes Small-Eyed Snakes  Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei  
Hydraethiops Black-Belly Snake  W Africa   
Hydrodynastes False Water Cobras South America   
Hydromorphus Costa Rican and Dunn's Water Snake  Central America   
Hydrops Northern and Triangle Water Snakes  South America   
Hypsiglena Night Snakes  W USA, Mexico and Central America   
Hypsirhynchus Hispaniolan Cat-Eyed Snake  Hispaniola   
Ialtris Fanged Snakes  Hispaniola   
Iguanognathus Spatula-Tooth Snake  Indonesia   
Imantodes Tree Snakes  Mexico, Central and South America   
Ithycyphus Night Snakes  Madagascar   
Lampropeltis Kingsnakes and Milksnakes North America  
Lamprophis House Snakes Africa and Seychelles, poss. Arabia  14   
Langaha Leafnose Snakes  Madagascar   
Leioheterodon Malagasy Hognose Snakes Madagascar   
Leptodeira Cat-Eyed Snakes  USA, Mexico, Central and South America  
Leptodrymus Striped Lowland Snake Central America   
Leptophis Parrot Snakes  Mexico, Central and South America  10   
Lepturophis Wolf Snakes  SE Asia   
Limnophis Swamp Snake  S & W Africa   
Lioheterophis Ihering's Snake Brazil   
Liopeltis Reed Snakes  Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia, Japan  
Liophidium   Madagascar, Mascarenes and Comores Islands   
Liophis Ground Snakes  Caribbean, Central and South America  50  
Liopholidophis Water Snakes Madagascar   
Lycodon (Asian) Wolf Snakes  Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia, Indian Ocean, Japan  29  
Lycodonomorphus Water Snakes W, E and S Africa  6  
Lycodryas Spotted and St John's Tree Snake  Comoro Islands   
Lycognathophis Seychelles Wolf Snake  Seychelles   
Lycophidion Wolf Snakes Sub-Saharan Africa  18  
Lystrophis South American Hognoses South America   
Lytorhynchus Longnose Sand and Leafnose Snakes North Africa, Middle East, Arabia, Central Asia   
Macrocalamus Mountain Reed Snakes  Malaysia   
Macropisthodon Keelbacks  India, China, SE Asia   
Macroprotodon  False Smooth Snake  Iberia, Italy, N Africa and Israel   
Madagascarophis   Madagascar   
Malpolon Moila and Montpellier Snakes  S Europe, N, W & E Africa, Middle East and Arabia   
Manolepis Ridgehead Snake  Mexico   
Masticophis Coachwhip, Whip Snakes and Racers USA, Mexico and Central America   
Mastigodryas Tropical Whipsnakes and -Racers   Grenada, Central and South America   
Mehelya File Snakes Sub-Saharan Africa  10   
Meizodon   Sub-Saharan Africa  
Micropisthodon   Madagascar 1  
Mimophis   Madagascar   
Montaspis Cream-Spotted Mountain Snake  Republic of South Africa   
Myersophis   Philippines   
Myron Richardson's Grey Mangrove Snake  Indonesia and Australia   
Natriciteres Marsh Snakes  Sub-Saharan Africa   
Natrix European Grass, Water and Dice Snakes  Europe, Mediterranean, North Africa, Middle East, S Russia, Central Asia, Pakistan, Malaysia   
Nerodia Marsh and Water Snakes  Canada, USA, Mexico, Cuba  10   
Ninia Coffee Snakes  Mexico, Central and South America   
Nothophis Rough Coffee Snake  Central and South America   
Oligodon Kukri Snakes  C Asia, Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia 67   
Opheophrys Rough and Smooth Green Snakes Canada, USA, Mexico   
Opisthotropis Mountain Keelbacks  and Stream Snakes China, SE Asia, Japan  16   
Oreocalamus Kalimantan Burrowing Snake  Malaysia   
Oxybelis Vine Snakes  USA, Mexico, Central and N South America  4  
Oxyrhabdium Philippine Shrub Snakes  Philippines, Indonesia   
Oxyrhopus False Coral Snakes  South America  13  
Parahelicops   Vietnam   
Pararhabdinia Madagascar Burrowing Snake Madagascar 1  
Pararhabdophis Vietnam Water Snake  Vietnam   
Pareas Slug Snakes  Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia, Japan 12   
Phalotris   South America  10  
Philodryas Green Racers  South America (inc. Chile and Galapagos) 21  Some venomous species
Philothamnus Green Snakes  Sub-Saharan Africa  18   
Phimophis Pampas Snakes  Panama and South America  6  
Phyllorhynchus Leafnose Snakes  USA and Mexico   
Pituophis Pine, Gopher and Bullsnakes North America and Guatemala   
Plagiopholis Mountain Snakes  China, SE Asia, India  5  
Pliocercus False Coral Snakes  Mexico, Central and South America   
Poecilopholis Cameroon Racer Cameroon   
Prosymna Shovel-Snouts  Sub-Saharan Africa  13   
Psammodynastes Mock Vipers  Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia   
Psammophis Sand Snakes, Sand Racers  Africa, Middle East, Arabia, Central Asia and Indian subcontinent, Mongolia 22   
Psammophylax Skaapstekers S & E Africa   
Pseudaspis Mole Snake S and E Africa and Congo   
Pseudoblabes Burrowing Night Snake  South America   
Pseudoboa False Boas  Caribbean, Panama and South America   
Pseudoboodon Banded Snakes  Ethiopia and Eritrea   
Pseudocyclophis Dark-Headed Dwarf Racer  Turkey, Middle East and C Asia   
Pseudoeryx South American Pond Snake  South America   
Pseudoficimia False Ficimia  Mexico   
Pseudoleptodeira False Cat-Eyed Snakes  Mexico   
Pseudorabdion Dwarf Reed Snakes and Common Collared Snake  SE Asia  12   
Pseudotomodon False Tomodon Snake  W Argentina   
Pseudoxenodon Bamboo Snakes  Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia   
Pseudoxyrhopus Brook Snakes  Madagascar  11   
Pseustes Puffing Snakes  Mexico, Central and South America  5  
Psomophis Spirit- and Wide Ground Snakes  South America   
Ptyas Rat Snakes/Racers  Iran, C Asia, Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia   
Ptychophis Fanged Water Snake  Brazil   
Pythonodipsas Western Keeled Snake  SW Africa   
Rabdion   Indonesia   
Regina Crayfish and Queen Snakes  Canada and USA   
Rhabdops Trapezoid Snakes  India, Myanmar, China   
Rhabdophis Keelbacks Indian subcontinent, China, E Russia, Korea, SE Asia 18 Number of venomous species
Rhachidelus       No information available
Rhadinaea Graceful Brown Snakes, Pine Forest Snakes  USA, Mexico, Central America, Colombia  35   
Rhadinophanes Graceful Mountain Snake  Mexico   
Rhamnophis   W & E Africa  2  
Rhamphiophis Beaked Snakes  Sub-Saharan Africa   
Rhinobothryum Amazon Banded Snakes  Central and South America   
Rhinocheilus Longnose Snakes USA and Mexico   
Rhynchocalamus Kukri Snakes  Balkans, Asia Minor, Middle East and Arabia   
Rhynchophis Rhinoceros/Rhino Rat Snake  N Vietnam and China  1  
Salvadora Patchnose Snakes  USA and Mexico  7  
Saphenophis Saphenophis Snakes  Colombia and Ecuador   
Scaphiodontophis Neckband Snakes  Mexico, Central America and Colombia   
Scaphiophis African Shovel-Nosed Snakes  W & E Africa   
Scolecophis Black-Banded Snake  Central America   
Seminatrix Black Swamp Snake  USA   
Senticolis Green Rat Snake  USA, Mexico, Central America   
Sibon Snail Suckers and Snail Eaters Mexico and Central and South America  13   
Sibynomorphus Tree Snakes  South America  12  
Sibynophis Many-Toothed Snakes  Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia   
Simophis False Coral Snakes  Brazil and Paraguay   
Sinonatrix (Chinese) Water Snakes  China, SE Asia   
Siphlophis Spotted Night Snakes  Panama and South America   
Sonora Ground Snakes  USA and Mexico   
Sordellina Dotted Ground Snake  Brazil   
Spalerosophis Diadem Snakes  N & W Africa, Somalia, Middle East, Arabia, C Asia, Indian subcontinent   
Spilotes Chicken Snake  S Mexico, Central and South America   
Stegonotus Frog-Eating Snakes and Ground Snakes Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and Australia  10   
Stenophis   Madagascar and Comoro Islands  15  
Stenorrhina Blood Snake and Scorpion-Eating Snake  Mexico, Central and South America   
Stilosoma Short-Tailed Snake  USA   
Stoliczkaia Red Snakes  India, Malaysia, Indonesia   
Storeria Brown and Redbelly Snakes USA and Mexico   
Symphimus White-Lipped Snakes  Mexico and Belize   
Sympholis Mexican Short-Tail Snake  Mexico   
Synophis Fishing Snakes  Colombia and Ecuador   
Tachymenis Slender Snakes  South America  7 Venomous 
Taeniophallus   Surinam, Brazil, French Guiana   
Tantalophis Oaxacan Cat-Eyed Snake  Mexico   
Tantilla Black-Headed, Flathead, Crowned and Centipede Snakes  USA, Mexico, Central and South America  62   
Tantillita Dwarf Short-Tail Snakes  Mexico and Central America   
Telescopus Tiger and Cat Snakes  Africa, Arabia, Middle East, Mediterranean, Caucasus, C Asia, Pakistan  12   
Tetralepis Bluebelly Java Snake  Indonesia   
Thamnodynastes Coastal House Snakes  South America  13   
Thamnophis Ribbon and Garter Snakes  North and Central America, Venezuela  28  
Thelotornis Twig and Vine Snakes Sub-Saharan Africa  Dangerously venomous 
Thermophis Bailey's Snake  China (Tibet)   
Thrasops Black Tree Snakes  W & E Africa   
Tomodon Pampas Snakes  South America   
Trachischium Worm-Eating Snakes  Indian subcontinent, China (Tibet)   
Tretanorhinus Swamp and Water Snakes  Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, N South America   
Trimetopon Tropical Ground Snakes  Panama and Costa Rica   
Trimorphodon Lyre Snakes USA, Mexico and Central America   
Tropidoclonion Lined Snake  USA   
Tropidodipsas Snail-Eating Snakes and Snail Suckers  Mexico and Guatemala   
Tropidodryas Serra Snakes  Brazil   
Tropidonophis Keelbacks  Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Australia 18   
Umbrivaga Tropical Forest Snakes  N South America   
Uromacer Pointed Snakes  Hispaniola   
Uromacerina Sao Paolo Sharp Snake Brazil  
Urotheca False Coral Snakes  Mexico, Central America and N South America   
Virginia Earth Snakes  USA   
Waglerophis Wagler's Snake  South America   
Xenelaphis Brown Snakes  SE Asia   
Xenochrophis Keelbacks and Asiatic Water Snakes Afghanistan, Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia  10   
Xenodermus Java Tubercle Snake  SE Asia   
Xenodon False Fer-de-Lances  Mexico, Central and South America   
Xenopholis Ground Snakes  South America   
Xenoxybelis   South America   
Xylophis Mountain Snakes  India   
Zaocys       Now viewed by some authorities as a synonym of Ptyas

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