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ASIA
Asia
is home to a great variety of
snake species. Included is the
worlds largest (in length) snake,
the Reticulated Pyhon.
Snakes can be
found throughout Asia and the
Asian Pacific Islands includin
Indonesia. Southeast Asian snakes
exhibit a remarkable diversity
of colour, patterning, shape and
size. Equally diverse are their
habits and behaviour.
Throghout Asia
there are a multitude of snake
species, in Papua New Guinea alone
there are over 80 species of snake,
excluding sea snakes. There still
remain many parts of the country
unstudied by researchers : given
time, there will be undoubtedly
be further discoveries of new
species. More remarkable than
the species count is the diversity
of colour, form and habits.
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| Colubridae
/ Colubrids |
A Colubrid is
a snake that is a member of the
Colubridae family. It is a broad
classification of snakes that includes
well over half of all snake species
on earth. While most colubrids are
non-venomous (or have venom that
isn't known to be harmful to humans)
and are normally harmless, a few
groups, such as genus Boiga, Coluber
and Rhabdophis, can produce medically
significant bites. In addition,
the Boomslang and African Twig Snake
have both caused human fatalities.The
venom-injecting fangs associated
with venomous colubrids are almost
always in the back of the mouth,
compared to vipers and elapids.
In North America, all snake species
in the colubridae
family are generally harmless to
humans. Please note: This list does
not currently include sub-species.
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| Elapidae/
Elapids (Venomous) |
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The cobra
family is thought to have evolved from
Colubrid snakes and many appear very similar
in appearance with long, slender bodies
and large scales (plates) on the head.
They differ in having more advanced venom
delivery systems than the venomous Colubrids.
Elapids have fangs that are "effectively
tubular" in that the fangs contain
grooves that are enclosed by an infolding
of the edges. The fangs are in the front
of the mouth rather than the rear as is
seen in venomous Colubrids. The Elapidae
contains some of the world's most dangerous
snakes including cobras (Naja), mambas
(Dendroaspis) and sea snakes (Hydophinae
and Laticaudinae). Elapids are found worldwide
and in Ausralia are the predominant family.
In North America, three species of elapids
are found, two species of coral snakes
and one sea snake. The coral snakes are
relatively small snakes that spend most
of their time underground. Their primary
food is other snakes. Despite their small
size and small fangs, their venom is extremely
toxic.
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| Viperidae
/ Vipers (Venomous) |
| The vipers are
generally considered to be the most advanced
family of snakes since they possess a very
sophisticated venom delivery system. Large
tubular fangs are placed in the front of
the mouth and they are hinged, allowing
them to be folded back when not in use.
Their heads are covered with numerous small
scales and their eyes have vertically eliptical
pupils. All the vipers found in North America
are in the subfamily of pit vipers (Crotalinae)
having a pair of heat sensing pits located
between each eye and nostril. The rattlesnakes
are a truly American family of pit vipers
since they are not found in the Old World
and all but two species are found in the
U.S. or Mexico. They are divided between
two genera based on their head scales. Members
of the genus Crotalus have numerous small
scales on their heads while members of the
genus Sistrurus have large scales (plates)
on their heads. |
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Asian
Snakes
Asia is home to some
of the worlds most colorful snakes species.
From its Green Vine Snakes to the worlds
largest snake the Reticulated Python.
Asian
Snake Forum
Visit our Asian Snake
forum for discussion on all African snake
species including Care, Field Herping,
and general knowledge and discussion on
the species from this area.
Asian
Snake Enthusiast Forum - Click Here
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