Editing Colubridae (section)

==Classification==
In the past, the Colubridae were not a [[monophyly|natural group]], as many were more closely related to other groups, such as [[Elapidae|elapids]], than to each other.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lawson |first1=R. |last2=Slowinski |first2=J.B. |last3=Crother |first3=B.I. |last4=Burbrink |first4=F.T. |title=Phylogeny of the Colubroidea (Serpentes): New evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear genes |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=November 2005 |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=581–601 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.07.016 |pmid=16172004 |bibcode=2005MolPE..37..581L }}</ref> This family was historically used as a "[[wastebasket taxon]]"<ref name="Weinstein2011"/> for snakes that do not fit elsewhere.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Fry, B.G. |author2=Vidal, N. |author3=van der Weerd, L. |author4=Kochva, E. |author5=Renjifo, C. |title=Evolution and diversification of the Toxicofera reptile venom system |year=2009 |journal=Journal of Proteomics |volume=72 |issue=2 |pages=127–136 |doi=10.1016/j.jprot.2009.01.009 |pmid=19457354}}</ref> Until recently, colubrids were basically [[Colubroidea|colubroids]] that were not [[Elapidae|elapids]], [[Viperidae|viperids]], or ''[[Atractaspis]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pough |first1=F. Harvey |last2=Andrews |first2=R. M. |last3=Cadle |first3=J. E. |last4=Crump |first4=M. L. |last5=Savitzky |first5=A. H. |last6=Wells |first6=K. |title=Herpetology |date=1998 |publisher=Prentice Hall |isbn=978-0-13-850876-0 |page=162}}</ref>

However, recent research in molecular phylogenetics has stabilized the classification of historically "colubrid" snakes and the family as currently defined is a [[monophyly|monophyletic]] [[clade]],<ref name="Pyronetal2013">{{cite journal |last1=Pyron |first1=R. A. |last2=Burbrink |first2=F. |last3=Wiens |first3=J. J. |title=A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |date=2013 |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=93 |doi=10.1186/1471-2148-13-93 |pmid=23627680 |pmc=3682911 |bibcode=2013BMCEE..13...93P |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Figueroa16">{{cite journal |last1=Figueroa |first1=A. |last2=McKelvy |first2=A. D. |last3=Grismer |first3=L. L. |last4=Bell |first4=C. D. |last5=Lailvaux |first5=S. P. |title=A species-level phylogeny of extant snakes with description of a new colubrid subfamily and genus |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2016 |volume=11 |issue=9 |pages=e0161070 |pmc=5014348 |pmid=27603205 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0161070 |bibcode=2016PLoSO..1161070F |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Pyronetal2011">{{cite journal |last1=Pyron |first1=R. A. |last2=Burbrink |first2=F. T. |last3=Colli |first3=G. R. |last4=de Oca |first4=A. N. M. |last5=Vitt |first5=L. J. |last6=Kuczynski |first6=C. A. |last7=Wiens |first7=J. J. |title=The phylogeny of advanced snakes (Colubroidea), with discovery of a new subfamily and comparison of support methods for likelihood trees |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=2011 |volume=58 |issue=2 |pages=329–342 |pmid=21074626 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.11.006 |bibcode=2011MolPE..58..329P }}</ref><ref name="ZhengWiens2016">{{cite journal |last1=Zheng |first1=Yuchi |last2=Wiens |first2=John J. |title=Combining phylogenomic and supermatrix approaches, and a time-calibrated phylogeny for squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) based on 52 genes and 4162 species |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=January 2016 |volume=94 |issue=Pt B |pages=537–547 |pmid=26475614 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2015.10.009 |bibcode=2016MolPE..94..537Z }}</ref> although additional research will be necessary to sort out all the relationships within this group. As of May 2018, eight subfamilies are recognized.<ref name="TRD">{{cite web |last1=Uetz |first1=Peter |title=Colubridae at The Reptile Database |url=http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?taxon=Colubridae&submit=Search |website=The Reptile Database |publisher=EMBL |access-date=13 May 2018 |archive-date=29 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629172949/http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?taxon=Colubridae&submit=Search |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Current subfamilies===

'''[[Sibynophiinae]]''' – three genera
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Colubroelaps]]''
* ''[[Scaphiodontophis]]''
* ''[[Sibynophis]]''
}}

'''[[Natricinae]]''' – 36 genera (sometimes given as family [[Natricidae]])
[[Image:Indian Rat Snake (Grey and Yellow).jpg|240px|thumb|Two [[Ptyas mucosa|Indian rat snakes]] (grey and yellow)]]
[[Image:Coast_Garter_Snake.jpg|240px|thumb|A [[Natricinae|natricine]], ''[[Thamnophis sirtalis]]'']]
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Afronatrix]]''
* ''[[Amphiesma]]''
* ''[[Amphiesmoides]]''
* ''[[Anoplohydrus]]''
* ''[[Aspidura]]''
* ''[[Atretium]]''
* ''[[Blythia]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Blythia&species=reticulata&search_param=%28%28genus%3D%27Blythia%27%29%29 |title=Blythia reticulata |access-date=2021-05-21 |archive-date=2021-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521033938/https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Blythia&species=reticulata&search_param=%28%28genus%3D%27Blythia%27%29%29 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''[[Clonophis]]''
* ''[[Fowlea]]''
* ''[[Haldea]]''
* ''[[Hebius]]''
* ''[[Helophis]]''
* ''[[Herpetoreas]]''
* ''[[Hydrablabes]]''
* ''[[Hydraethiops]]''
* ''[[Iguanognathus]]''
* ''[[Isanophis]]''
* ''[[Limnophis]]''
* ''[[Liodytes]]''
* ''[[Natriciteres]]''
* ''[[Natrix]]''
* †''[[Neonatrix]]''
* ''[[Nerodia]]''
* ''[[Opisthotropis]]''
* ''[[Pseudagkistrodon]]''
* ''[[Regina (snake)|Regina]]''
* ''[[Rhabdophis]]''
* ''[[Rhabdops]]''
* ''[[Smithophis]]''
* ''[[Storeria]]''
* ''[[Thamnophis]]''
* ''[[Trachischium]]''
* ''[[Trimerodytes]]''
* ''[[Tropidoclonion]]''
* ''[[Tropidonophis]]''
* ''[[Virginia (snake)|Virginia]]''
* ''[[Xenochrophis]]''}}

'''[[Pseudoxenodontinae]]''' – two genera
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Plagiopholis]]''
* ''[[Pseudoxenodon]]''
}}

'''[[Dipsadinae]]''' – over 100 genera (sometimes given as family [[Dipsadidae]])
[[Image:Sibon_longifrenis_(La_Selva_Biological_Station).jpg|240px|thumb|A [[Dipsadinae|dipsadine]], ''[[Sibon longifrenis]]'']]
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Adelphicos]]''
* ''[[Adelphostigma]]''
* ''[[Alsophis]]''
* ''[[Amastridium]]''
* ''[[Amnesteophis]]''
* ''[[Amnisiophis]]''
* ''[[Apographon]]''
* ''[[Apostolepis]]''
* ''[[Arcanumophis]]''
* ''[[Arrhyton]]''
* ''[[Atractus]]''
* ''[[Baliodryas]]''
* ''[[Boiruna]]''
* ''[[Borikenophis]]''
* ''[[Caaeteboia]]''
* ''[[Calamodontophis]]''
* ''[[Caraiba]]''
* ''[[Carphophis]]''
* ''[[Cenaspis]]''
* ''[[Cercophis]]''
* ''[[Chersodromus]]''
* ''[[Chlorosoma]]''
* ''[[Clelia (snake genus)|Clelia]]''
* ''[[Coniophanes]]''
* ''[[Conophis]]''
* ''[[Contia]]''
* ''[[Coronelaps]]''
* ''[[Crisantophis]]''
* ''[[Cryophis]]''
* ''[[Cubophis]]''
* ''[[Diadophis]]''
* ''[[Diaphorolepis]]''
* ''[[Dibernardia]]''
* ''[[Dipsas]]''
* ''[[Ditaxodon]]''
* ''[[Drepanoides]]''
* ''[[Dryophylax]]''
* ''[[Echinanthera]]''
* ''[[Elapomorphus]]''
* ''[[Emmochliophis]]''
* ''[[Enuliophis]]''
* ''[[Enulius]]''
* ''[[Erythrolamprus]]''
* ''[[Eutrachelophis]]''
* ''[[Farancia]]''
* ''[[Galvarinus]]''
* ''[[Geophis]]''
* ''[[Gomesophis]]''
* ''[[Haitiophis]]''
* ''[[Helicops (snake)|Helicops]]''
* ''[[Heterodon]]''
* ''[[Hydrodynastes]]''
* ''[[Hydromorphus]]''
* ''[[Hydrops (snake)|Hydrops]]''
* ''[[Hypsiglena]]''
* ''[[Hypsirhynchus]]''
* ''[[Ialtris]]''
* ''[[Imantodes]]''
* ''[[Incaspis]]''
* ''[[Leptodeira]]''
* ''[[Lioheterophis]]''
* ''[[Lygophis]]''
* ''[[Magliophis]]''
* ''[[Manolepis]]''
* ''[[Mesotes]]''
* ''[[Mussurana (genus)|Mussurana]]''
* ''[[Ninia]]''
* ''[[Nothopsis]]''
* ''[[Omoadiphas]]''
* ''[[Oxyrhopus]]''
* ''[[Paikwaophis]]''
* †''[[Paleoheterodon]]''
* ''[[Paraphimophis]]''
* ''[[Phalotris]]''
* ''[[Philodryas]]''
* ''[[Phimophis]]''
* ''[[Plesiodipsas]]''
* ''[[Pliocercus]]''
* ''[[Pseudalsophis]]''
* ''[[Pseudoboa]]''
* ''[[Pseudoeryx]]''
* ''[[Pseudoleptodeira]]''
* ''[[Psomophis]]''
* ''[[Ptychophis]]''
* ''[[Rhachidelus]]''
* ''[[Rhadinaea]]''
* ''[[Rhadinella]]''
* ''[[Rhadinophanes]]''
* ''[[Rodriguesophis]]''
* ''[[Saphenophis]]''
* ''[[Sibon (snake)|Sibon]]''
* ''[[Siphlophis]]''
* ''[[Sordellina]]''
* ''[[Synophis]]''
* ''[[Tachymenis]]''
* ''[[Tachymenoides]]''
* ''[[Taeniophallus]]''
* ''[[Tantalophis]]''
* ''[[Thamnodynastes]]''
* ''[[Thermophis]]''
* ''[[Tomodon]]''
* ''[[Tretanorhinus]]''
* ''[[Trimetopon]]''
* ''[[Tropidodipsas]]''
* ''[[Tropidodryas]]''
* ''[[Uromacer]]''
* ''[[Urotheca]]''
* ''[[Xenodon]]''
* ''[[Xenopholis]]''
* ''[[Xenoxybelis]]''
* ''[[Zonateres]]''
}}

'''[[Grayiinae]]''' – one genus
* ''[[Grayia (snake)|Grayia]]''

'''[[Calamariinae]]''' – seven genera
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Calamaria]]''
* ''[[Calamorhabdium]]''
* ''[[Collorhabdium]]''
* ''[[Etheridgeum]]''
* ''[[Macrocalamus]]''
* ''[[Pseudorabdion]]''
* ''[[Rabdion]]''
}}

'''[[Ahaetuliinae]]''' – five genera
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Ahaetulla]]''
* ''[[Chrysopelea]]''
* ''[[Dendrelaphis]]''
* ''[[Dryophiops]]''
* ''[[Proahaetulla]]''}}

'''[[Colubrinae]]''' –  93 genera
[[Image:PikiWiki Israel 37648 Nature and Colors.jpg|240px|thumb|A [[Colubrinae|colubrine]], ''[[Dolichophis jugularis]]'', preying on a legless lizard, a [[sheltopusik]]]]
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Aeluroglena]]''
* ''[[Aprosdoketophis]]''
* ''[[Archelaphe]]''
* ''[[Arizona (snake)|Arizona]]''
* ''[[Bamanophis]]''
* ''[[Bogertophis]]''
* ''[[Boiga]]''
* ''[[Cemophora]]''
* ''[[Chapinophis]]''
* ''[[Chironius]]''
* ''[[Coelognathus]]''
* ''[[Eastern racer|Coluber]]''
* ''[[Conopsis]]''
* ''[[Coronella]]''
* ''[[Crotaphopeltis]]''
* ''[[Dasypeltis]]''
* ''[[Dendrophidion]]''
* ''[[Dipsadoboa]]''
* ''[[Dispholidus]]''
* ''[[Dolichophis]]''
* ''[[Drymarchon]]''
* ''[[Drymobius]]''
* ''[[Drymoluber]]''
* ''[[Eirenis]]''
* ''[[Elaphe]]''
* ''[[Euprepiophis]]''
* ''[[Ficimia]]''
* ''[[Geagras]]''
* ''[[Gonyosoma]]''
* ''[[Gyalopion]]''
* ''[[Hapsidophrys]]''
* ''[[Hemerophis]]''
* ''[[Hemorrhois]]''
* ''[[Hierophis]]''
* ''[[Kingsnake|Lampropeltis]]''
* ''[[Leptodrymus]]''
* ''[[Leptophis]]''
* ''[[Liopeltis]]''
* ''[[Lycodon]]''
* ''[[Lytorhynchus]]''
* ''[[Macroprotodon]]''
* ''[[Masticophis]]''
* ''[[Mastigodryas]]''
* ''[[Meizodon]]''
* ''[[Mopanveldophis]]''
* ''[[Muhtarophis]]''
* ''[[Oligodon]]''
* ''[[Oocatochus]]''
* ''[[Opheodrys]]''
* ''[[Oreocryptophis]]''
* ''[[Orientocoluber]]''
* ''[[Oxybelis]]''
* ''[[Palusophis]]''
* ''[[Pantherophis]]''
* {{extinct}}''[[Paracoluber]]''
* ''[[Persiophis]]''
* ''[[Philothamnus]]''
* ''[[Phrynonax]]''
* ''[[Phyllorhynchus]]''
* ''[[Pituophis]]''
* ''[[Platyceps]]''
* ''[[Pseudelaphe]]''
* ''[[Pseudoficimia]]''
* ''[[Ptyas]]''
* ''[[Rhamnophis]]''
* ''[[Rhinobothryum]]''
* ''[[Rhinocheilus]]''
* ''[[Rhynchocalamus]]''
* ''[[Salvadora (snake)|Salvadora]]''
* ''[[Scaphiophis]]''
* ''[[Scolecophis]]''
* ''[[Senticolis]]''
* ''[[Simophis]]''
* ''[[Sonora (snake)|Sonora]]''
* ''[[Spalerosophis]]''
* ''[[Spilotes]]''
* ''[[Stegonotus (snake)|Stegonotus]]''
* ''[[Stenorrhina]]''
* ''[[Stichophanes]]''
* ''[[Symphimus]]''
* ''[[Sympholis]]''
* ''[[Tantilla]]''
* ''[[Tantillita]]''
* ''[[Telescopus]]''
* ''[[Thelotornis]]''
* ''[[Thrasops]]''
* ''[[Toxicodryas]]''
* ''[[Trimorphodon]]''
* ''[[Wallaceophis]]''
* ''[[Wallophis]]''
* ''[[Xenelaphis]]''
* ''[[Xyelodontophis]]''
* ''[[Zamenis]]''
* †''[[Zelceophis]]''}}

'''Sub-family currently undetermined'''
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* ''[[Elapoidis]]''
* ''[[Gongylosoma]]''
* ''[[Lycognathophis]]''
* ''[[Oreocalamus hanitschi|Oreocalamus]]''
* ''[[Tetralepis]]''
* †''[[Ameiseophis]]''<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Holman |first=J. Alan |date=1982-01-01 |title=New Herpetological Species and Records from the Norden Bridge Fauna (Miocene: Late Barstovian) of Nebraska |journal=Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies |url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/491}}</ref>
* †''[[Dryinoides]]'' 
* †''[[Hispanophis]]''
* †''[[Floridaophis]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Floridaophis auffenbergi |url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-vertebrate-fossils/species/floridaophis-auffenbergi/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=Florida Vertebrate Fossils |language=en-US}}</ref>
* †''[[Micronatrix]]''
* †''[[Miocoluber]]''
* †''[[Mionatrix]]''?
* †''[[Nebraskophis]]''<ref name=":1" />
* †''[[Palaeonatrix]]''
* †''[[Paleofarancia]]'' 
* †''[[Paraoxybelis]]''
* †''[[Paraxenophis]]''
* †''[[Periergophis]]''
* †''[[Pollackophis]]''
* †''[[Pseudocemophora]]''
* †''[[Texasophis]]''}}

===Former subfamilies===
These taxa have been at one time or another classified as part of the Colubridae, but are now either classified as parts of other families, or are no longer accepted because all the species within them have been moved to other (sub)families.
* Subfamily [[Aparallactinae]] (now a subfamily of [[Lamprophiidae]],<ref name="Pyronetal2011"/> sometimes combined with [[Atractaspidinae]])
* Subfamily Boiginae (now part of [[Colubrinae]])
* Subfamily [[Boodontinae]] (some of which now treated as subfamily [[Grayiinae]] of the new Colubridae, others moved to family [[Lamprophiidae]] as part of subfamilies [[Lamprophiinae]], [[Pseudaspidinae]] and [[Pseudoxyrhophiidae]], which are now sometimes treated as families)
* Subfamily Dispholidinae (now part of Colubrinae)
* Subfamily [[Homalopsinae]] (now family [[Homalopsidae]])<ref name="Pyronetal2011"/>
* Subfamily Lamprophiinae (now a subfamily of Lamprophiidae)<ref name="Pyronetal2011"/>
* Subfamily Lycodontinae (now part of Colubrinae)
* Subfamily Lycophidinae (now part of Lamprophiidae)
* Subfamily Pareatinae (now family [[Pareidae]],<ref name="Pyronetal2011"/> sometimes incorrectly spelled Pareatidae)<ref name=Savage>{{cite journal |last1=Savage |first1=Jay M. |year=2015 |title=What are the correct family names for the taxa that include the snake genera ''Xenodermus'', ''Pareas'', and ''Calamaria''? |journal=Herpetological Review |volume=46 |issue=4 |pages=664–665 |url=http://www.zenscientist.com/index.php/pdflibrary2/func-finishdown/2496/ |access-date=2018-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307141006/http://www.zenscientist.com/index.php/pdflibrary2/func-finishdown/2496 |archive-date=2016-03-07 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Subfamily Philothamninae (now part of Colubrinae)
* Subfamily [[Psammophiinae]] (now a subfamily of Lamprophiidae)<ref name="Pyronetal2011"/>
* Subfamily [[Pseudoxyrhophiinae]] (now a subfamily of Lamprophiidae)<ref name="Pyronetal2011"/>
* Subfamily Xenoderminae (now family [[Xenodermidae]],<ref name="Pyronetal2011"/> sometimes incorrectly spelled Xenodermatidae)<ref name=Savage/>
* Subfamily [[Xenodontinae]] (which many authors put in [[Dipsadinae]]/[[Dipsadidae]])