Family Elapidae |
Currently around 325 species of Elapid snakes in 61 genera are recognized. New species are being found on a regular basis so this figure will not remain static. Elapid snakes are found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world and range in size from the giant king cobra which reaches 5.6 m (18.5 feet for those of you who still use this quaint and antiquated system) to 18 cm (7 inch) crowned snakes. They all possess a pair of front-mounted hollow teeth in the upper jaw and these are connected to venom glands. They range in toxicity from some of the world's most venomous snakes (Australia's inland taipan) through to the relatively innocuous (Ogmodon or bolo, the Fijian burrowing snake). Elapids include amongst their number sea snakes and some of these are highly venomous. Although the sea kraits are relatively placid and can be handled with care, this is not recommended as a beginner could easily confuse them with the more aggressive hydrophiine seasnakes - or snee snakes as I always seem to say it.
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Dendroaspis angusticeps Green mamba |
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Dendroaspis angusticeps Green mamba, captive |
Dendroaspis jamesoni Jameson's blacktailed mamba
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Dendroaspis jamesoni Jameson's blacktailed mamba, captive.
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Dendroaspis viridis West African green mamba |
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SNAKE 1792 Dendroaspis viridis, West African green mamba, captive.
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Laticauda colubrina Yellow-lipped sea krait |
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Laticauda colubrina Yellow-lipped sea krait on land, Fiji.
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Unexplained mass of Laticauda colubrina Yellow-lipped sea kraits in Niue.
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Laticauda colubrina Yellow-lipped sea krait diving after taking breath at surface, Kadavu, Fiji.
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Laticauda colubrina Yellow-lipped sea krait headed to surface, Kadavu, Fiji.
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SNAKE 5010 Laticauda colubrina Yellow-lipped sea krait, Puerto Galera, Philippines.
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Laticauda colubrina Yellow-lipped sea krait, Kadavu, Fiji.
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SNAKE 5009 Laticauda colubrina Yellow-lipped sea krait, Puerto Galera, Philippines.
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Laticauda crockeri |
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Laticauda crockeri, Rennell Island, Solomon Islands.
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Ogmodon vitianus, bolo, Fijian burrowing snake
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Ogmodon vitianus bolo adult dorsal, Fiji
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Adult Ogmodon vitianus bolo dorsal, Fiji.
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Adult Ogmodon vitianus bolo dorsal 2, Fiji.
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Juvenile bolo, Ogmodon vitianus from the Namosi Valley, Fiji.
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Juvenile Ogmodon vitianus bolo dorsal, Fiji.
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Close-up of juvenile Ogmodon vitianus bolo, Fiji.
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Ophiophagus hannah King cobra |
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SNAKE 9218 Ophiophagus hannah King cobra head shot captive.
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Pelamis platurus yellow bellied seasnake |
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Pelamis platurus yellow bellied seasnake, head shot, Fiji.
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Pelamis platurus yellow bellied seasnake
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