BETA TEST - Fossil data and pages are very much experimental and under development. Please report any problems
Elapidae
| Description | Elapidae (commonly known as elapids ; Ancient Greek: ἔλλοψ éllops "sea-fish") is a family of venomous snakes endemic to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, with terrestrial forms in Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas alongside marine forms in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Members of this family have a wide range of sizes, from the smallest 18 cm (7.1 in) white-lipped snake to the longest 5.85 m (19.2 ft) king cobra, all of which, however, have fixed hollow fangs for venom injection to subdue prey and defend themselves against any threats. Most species have neurotoxins in their venom, while some may contain other toxic components with various proportions. This family includes 56 genera with some 360 species and some 170 subspecies. From Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elapidae, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source Data |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | family | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy (GBIF,PBDB) | Life : Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Squamata : Elapidae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxonomic Status (GBIF) | accepted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification (PBDB,GBIF) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific Name | Elapidae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name Published In | Isis (Oken), 20(3): 510 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opinions (PBDB) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status (PBDB) | extant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxon Size (PBDB) | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extant Size (PBDB) | 13 (65%) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Recorded Appearance | 55.8 - 48.6 Ma Eocene | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Environment | terrestrial (based on Booidea) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motility | actively mobile (based on Osteichthyes) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diet | carnivore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taphonomy | phosphatic (based on Vertebrata) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary Reference (PBDB) | F. Boié. 1827. Bemerkungen über Merrem’s Versuch eines Systems der Amphibien. Marburg. 1820. Erste Lieferung: Ophidier. Isis von Oken 20(6/7):508-566 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Name(s) | Cobras, Coral Snakes, Coralsnakes, Elapids, Kraits, コブラ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elapidae |
External Images
Fossil Distribution
Subtaxa
| Name | Status | Common Name(s) | Fossil Occurrences | Oldest | Youngest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrophiinae subfamily | listed (PBDB) | Sea Snake | 7 | 16.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Najinae subfamily | listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Acanthophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Aipysurus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Antaioserpens genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Apistocalamus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Aspidelaps genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Aspidoclonion genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Aspidomorphus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Austrelaps genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 1 | 0.13 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Brachyurophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Bungarus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Cacophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Calliophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Cannia genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Cryptophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Demansia genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Dendroaspis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Denisonia genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Disteira genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Drysdalia genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Echiopsis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Elapechis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Elapognathus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Elaps genus | doubtful (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Elapsoidea genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Emydocephalus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Enhydrina genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Ephalophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Furina genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Hemachatus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Hemiaspis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Hemibungarus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
 Hoplocephalusgenus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Hydrelaps genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Hydrophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Incongruelaps ✝ genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 2 | 16.0 Ma Miocene | 11.6 Ma Miocene | |
| Kerilia genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Kolpophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Laticauda genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 0 Ma Extant | |||
| Loveridgelaps genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Megaerophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Microcephalophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Micropechis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Micruroides genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Micrurus genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Coral Snake | 15 | 20.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Naja genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | Cobra | 36 | 23.0 Ma Miocene | 0 Ma Extant |
| Notechis genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 4 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Notopseudonaja genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Ogmodon genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Ophiophagus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Oxyuranus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Pailsus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Parahydrophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Parapistocalamus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Parasuta genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Paroplocephalus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Pelamis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Polyodontognathus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Pseudechis genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 3 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Pseudohaje genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Pseudolaticauda genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Pseudonaja genus | accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB) | 4 | 2.59 Ma Pleistocene | 0 Ma Extant | |
| Rhinoplocephalus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Salomonelaps genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Simoselaps genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Sinomicrurus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Suta genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Thalassophis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Toxicocalamus genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Tropidechis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Unechis genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Vermicella genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Walterinnesia genus | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rhynchelaps albiceps species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rhynchelaps fasciolatus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
| Rhynchelaps semifasciatus species | accepted (GBIF) | No associated record in PBDB | |||
Obsolete Names
| Name | Source | Taxon Rank | Taxonomy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protropidonotus neglectus Schlosser, 1916 | GBIF | species | Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Squamata : Elapidae : Protropidonotus neglectus |
| Hydrophidae | GBIF | family | Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Squamata : Hydrophidae |
| Protropidonotus Schlosser, 1916 | GBIF | genus | Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Squamata : Elapidae : Protropidonotus |
Synonymy List
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1827 | Elapidae Boié |
| 1871 | Elapidae Cope p. 238 |
| 1875 | Elapidae Cope p. 22 |
| 1890 | Elapidae Zittel p. 631 |
| 1916 | Protropidonotus Schlosser p. 34 |
| 1916 | Protropidonotus neglectus Schlosser p. 34 figs. 2 pl. I |
| Year | Name and Author |
|---|---|
| 1946 | Elapinae Kuhn p. 62 |
| 1966 | Elapidae Kuhn p. 67 |
| 1988 | Elapidae Carroll |
| 1988 | Protropidonotus Carroll |
| 1996 | Elapidae Frank and Ramus |
References
Data courtesy of: PBDB: The Paleobiology Database, Creative Commons CC-BY licenced. , GBIF: the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, various licences, iDigBio, various licences, and EOL: The Encyclopedia of Life (Open Data Public Domain). Because fossils are made of minerals too!
