Added August 28 2004. Last updated 2 January 2024: added Adelphostigma and Amnesteophis and updated entries for Achalinus, Adelophis, Adelphicos and Ahaetulla.

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 Reptile Database site 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	26
Adelophis	Mountain Meadow Snakes	Mexico	2	Now redefined by some authorities as Thamnophis species.
Adelphicos	American Burrowing Snakes	Mexico and Central America	9
Adelphostigma		South America	2	Formerly assigned to Taeniophallus.
Aeluroglena	Somali Snake	Horn of Africa	1
Afronatrix	African Brown Water Snake	W Africa	1
Ahaetulla	Asian Vine Snakes/Asian Whip Snakes	India, SE Asia	20
Alluaudina		Madagascar	2
Alsophis	Racers	Caribbean, N South America and Galapagos Islands	8	Reduced in number of species since 2004, some being reassigned to Borikenophis, Cubophis, Haitiophis, Hypsirhynchus, Ialtris and Pseudalsophis.
Amastridium	Rustyhead Snake	Mexico and C America	2
Amnesteophis		Brazil	1	Formerly assigned to Liophis or Echinanthera.
Amnisiophis		SE Brazil	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	1
Bitia	Keel-Bellied Water Snake	Burma, Thailand, Malaysia	1
Blythia	Blyth's Reticulate Snake	India, China and Burma	1
Bogertophis	Trans-Peco and Baja California Ratsnakes	USA and Mexico	2
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	1
Bothrolycus	Günther's Black Snake	W Africa including Congo	1
Bothropthalmus	Red-Black Striped Snake	W Africa including Congo	1
Brachyorrhos		Indonesia	1
Brygophis		Madagascar	1
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	1
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	1
Cerberus	Dog-Faced Water Snakes	Indian subcontinent, SE Asia inc. Philippines, New Guinea and Australia	2
Cercaspis	Ceylon Wolf Snake	Sri Lanka	1
Cercophis	Tropical Forest Snake	Brazil	1
Chamaelycus	Banded Snakes	W Africa inc. Congo	4
Chersodromus	Earth Runners	Mexico and Guatemala	2
Chilomeniscus	Sand Snakes	USA and Mexico	2
Chionactis	Shovel-Nosed Snakes	USA and Mexico	3
Chironius	Sipos	Central and South America, Lesser Antilles	13
Chrysopelea	Flying Snakes	India, SE Asia, China	5
Clelia	Mussuranas	Central and South America and Antilles	9
Clonophis	Road Guarders	Mexico, Central America, poss. Colombia	4
Clonophis	Kirtland's Snake	USA	1
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	1
Coniophanes	Garden Snakes/Black-Striped Snakes	USA, Mexico, Central and South America	13
Conopsis	Ground Snakes, Earth Snake	Mexico	6
Contia	Sharptail Snake	USA	1
Coronella	Smooth Snakes	Europe, Caucasus, Asia Minor and Iran, India	3
Crisantophis	Dunn's Road Guarder	Central America	1
Crotaphopeltis	Herald Snakes	Sub-Saharan Africa	6
Cryophis	Hallberg's Cloud Forest Snake	Mexico	1
Cryptophidion				No information available
Cyclocorus	Triangle-Spotted Snakes	Philippines	2
Cyclophiops	Green Snakes	China, India, SE Asia, Japan	4
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	1
Dendrophidion	Forest Racers	Central and South America	8
Diadophis	Ringneck Snakes	North America	1
Diaphorolepis	Frog-Eating Snakes	Colombia, Ecuador and Panama	2
Dinodon	Big-Toothed Snakes	India, SE Asia, China, Japan	7
Dipsadoboa	Tree Snakes	Sub-Saharan Africa	11
Dipsas	Snail-Eaters	Mexico, Central and South America	32
Dipsina	Dwarf/Western Beaked Snake	SW Africa	1
Dispholidus	Boomslang	Sub-Saharan Africa	1	Dangerously venomous
Ditaxodon	Hensel's Snake	Brazil and Peru	1
Ditypophis	Günther's Racer	Socotra Island (Yemen)	1
Drepanoides	Black-Collared Snake	South America	1
Dromicodryas	Striped Snakes	Madagascar	2
Dromophis	Striped Swamp Snake	Sub-Saharan Africa	2
Dryadophis	Lizard Eaters	Mexico and Central America, poss. Colombia	3
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	6
Dryophiops	Whipsnakes	SE Asia	2
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	1
Elaphe	Rat Snakes	Europe, N America, Asia	38
Elapoidis		Indonesia	1
Elapomorphus	Diadem/Lizard-Eating Snakes	South America	5	Venomous
Emmochliophis	Pinchinda Snakes	Ecuador	2
Enhydris	Water Snakes	Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia, Australia	21
Enuliophis	Colombian Longtail Snake	Central America	1
Enulius	Longtail Snakes	Mexico and Central America	4
Eridiphas	Baja California Night Snake	Mexico	1
Erpeton	Tentacle Snake	Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam	1
Erythrolamprus	False Coral Snakes	Central and South America	6
Etheridgeum	Sumatra Etheridge Snake	Indonesia	1
Exallodontophis		Madagascar	1
Farancia	Mud and Rainbow Snakes	USA	2
Ficimia	Hooknose Snakes	USA, Mexico and Central America	7
Fimbrios	Bearded Snake	Cambodia and Vietnam	1
Fordonia	Crab-Eating Water Snake	Indian subcontinent, SE Asia, Papua New Guinea and Australia	1
Gastropyxis	Emerald Snake	W & E Africa	1	May instead be considered a species of Hapsidophrys: see the latter page.
Geagras	Tehuantepec Striped Snake	Mexico	1
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	1
Gomesophis	Brazilian Burrowing Snake	Brazil	1
Gongylosoma	Ringnecks	SE Asia and Nicobar Islands	5
Gonionotophis	African Ground Snakes	W Africa	3
Gonyophis	Rainbow Tree Snake	SE Asia	1
Gonyosoma		Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia	5
Grayia	African Water Snakes	W, C and E Africa	4
Gyalopion	Hooknose Snake	USA and Mexico	2
Haplocercus	Ceylon Keelback	Sri Lanka	1
Hapsidophrys	Black-Lined Green Snake	W & E Africa	1-2
Helicops	Keelbacks	South America	15
Helophis	Schouteden's Sun Snake	Congo	1
Hemirhagerrhis	Bark/Mopane Snakes	Sub-Saharan Africa	4
Hemorrhois		Europe and N Africa	4	Former Coluber species
Heterodon	Hog-Nosed Snakes	Canada, USA and Mexico	3
Heteroliodon		Madagascar	2
Heurnia	Mamberano River Water Snake	Indonesia	1
Hierophis	Racers	S Europe, Balkans, S Russia, Caucasus, Middle East, N China, Korea	6
Hologerrhum		Philippines	2
Homalopsis	Puff-Faced Water Snake	Indian subcontinent, SE Asia	1
Hormonotus	Uganda House Snake	W & E Africa	1
Hydrablabes	Small-Eyed Snakes	Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei	2
Hydraethiops	Black-Belly Snake	W Africa	2
Hydrodynastes	False Water Cobras	South America	2
Hydromorphus	Costa Rican and Dunn's Water Snake	Central America	2
Hydrops	Northern and Triangle Water Snakes	South America	2
Hypsiglena	Night Snakes	W USA, Mexico and Central America	2
Hypsirhynchus	Hispaniolan Cat-Eyed Snake	Hispaniola	1
Ialtris	Fanged Snakes	Hispaniola	3
Iguanognathus	Spatula-Tooth Snake	Indonesia	1
Imantodes	Tree Snakes	Mexico, Central and South America	6
Ithycyphus	Night Snakes	Madagascar	5
Lampropeltis	Kingsnakes and Milksnakes	North America	8
Lamprophis	House Snakes	Africa and Seychelles, poss. Arabia	14
Langaha	Leafnose Snakes	Madagascar	3
Leioheterodon	Malagasy Hognose Snakes	Madagascar	3
Leptodeira	Cat-Eyed Snakes	USA, Mexico, Central and South America	9
Leptodrymus	Striped Lowland Snake	Central America	1
Leptophis	Parrot Snakes	Mexico, Central and South America	10
Lepturophis	Wolf Snakes	SE Asia	2
Limnophis	Swamp Snake	S & W Africa	1
Lioheterophis	Ihering's Snake	Brazil	1
Liopeltis	Reed Snakes	Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia, Japan	7
Liophidium		Madagascar, Mascarenes and Comores Islands	8
Liophis	Ground Snakes	Caribbean, Central and South America	50
Liopholidophis	Water Snakes	Madagascar	9
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	2
Lycognathophis	Seychelles Wolf Snake	Seychelles	1
Lycophidion	Wolf Snakes	Sub-Saharan Africa	18
Lystrophis	South American Hognoses	South America	5
Lytorhynchus	Longnose Sand and Leafnose Snakes	North Africa, Middle East, Arabia, Central Asia	6
Macrocalamus	Mountain Reed Snakes	Malaysia	5
Macropisthodon	Keelbacks	India, China, SE Asia	4
Macroprotodon	False Smooth Snake	Iberia, Italy, N Africa and Israel	1
Madagascarophis		Madagascar	4
Malpolon	Moila and Montpellier Snakes	S Europe, N, W & E Africa, Middle East and Arabia	2
Manolepis	Ridgehead Snake	Mexico	1
Masticophis	Coachwhip, Whip Snakes and Racers	USA, Mexico and Central America	9
Mastigodryas	Tropical Whipsnakes and -Racers	Grenada, Central and South America	9
Mehelya	File Snakes	Sub-Saharan Africa	10
Meizodon		Sub-Saharan Africa	5
Micropisthodon		Madagascar	1
Mimophis		Madagascar	1
Montaspis	Cream-Spotted Mountain Snake	Republic of South Africa	1
Myersophis		Philippines	1
Myron	Richardson's Grey Mangrove Snake	Indonesia and Australia	1
Natriciteres	Marsh Snakes	Sub-Saharan Africa	3
Natrix	European Grass, Water and Dice Snakes	Europe, Mediterranean, North Africa, Middle East, S Russia, Central Asia, Pakistan, Malaysia	5
Nerodia	Marsh and Water Snakes	Canada, USA, Mexico, Cuba	10
Ninia	Coffee Snakes	Mexico, Central and South America	9
Nothophis	Rough Coffee Snake	Central and South America	1
Oligodon	Kukri Snakes	C Asia, Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia	67
Opheophrys	Rough and Smooth Green Snakes	Canada, USA, Mexico	2
Opisthotropis	Mountain Keelbacks and Stream Snakes	China, SE Asia, Japan	16
Oreocalamus	Kalimantan Burrowing Snake	Malaysia	1
Oxybelis	Vine Snakes	USA, Mexico, Central and N South America	4
Oxyrhabdium	Philippine Shrub Snakes	Philippines, Indonesia	2
Oxyrhopus	False Coral Snakes	South America	13
Parahelicops		Vietnam	1
Pararhabdinia	Madagascar Burrowing Snake	Madagascar	1
Pararhabdophis	Vietnam Water Snake	Vietnam	1
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	2
Pituophis	Pine, Gopher and Bullsnakes	North America and Guatemala	5
Plagiopholis	Mountain Snakes	China, SE Asia, India	5
Pliocercus	False Coral Snakes	Mexico, Central and South America	2
Poecilopholis	Cameroon Racer	Cameroon	1
Prosymna	Shovel-Snouts	Sub-Saharan Africa	13
Psammodynastes	Mock Vipers	Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia	2
Psammophis	Sand Snakes, Sand Racers	Africa, Middle East, Arabia, Central Asia and Indian subcontinent, Mongolia	22
Psammophylax	Skaapstekers	S & E Africa	3
Pseudaspis	Mole Snake	S and E Africa and Congo	1
Pseudoblabes	Burrowing Night Snake	South America	1
Pseudoboa	False Boas	Caribbean, Panama and South America	5
Pseudoboodon	Banded Snakes	Ethiopia and Eritrea	3
Pseudocyclophis	Dark-Headed Dwarf Racer	Turkey, Middle East and C Asia	1
Pseudoeryx	South American Pond Snake	South America	1
Pseudoficimia	False Ficimia	Mexico	1
Pseudoleptodeira	False Cat-Eyed Snakes	Mexico	2
Pseudorabdion	Dwarf Reed Snakes and Common Collared Snake	SE Asia	12
Pseudotomodon	False Tomodon Snake	W Argentina	1
Pseudoxenodon	Bamboo Snakes	Indian subcontinent, China, SE Asia	6
Pseudoxyrhopus	Brook Snakes	Madagascar	11
Pseustes	Puffing Snakes	Mexico, Central and South America	5
Psomophis	Spirit- and Wide Ground Snakes	South America	3
Ptyas	Rat Snakes/Racers	Iran, C Asia, Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia	8
Ptychophis	Fanged Water Snake	Brazil	1
Pythonodipsas	Western Keeled Snake	SW Africa	1
Rabdion		Indonesia	1
Regina	Crayfish and Queen Snakes	Canada and USA	4
Rhabdops	Trapezoid Snakes	India, Myanmar, China	2
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	1
Rhamnophis		W & E Africa	2
Rhamphiophis	Beaked Snakes	Sub-Saharan Africa	4
Rhinobothryum	Amazon Banded Snakes	Central and South America	2
Rhinocheilus	Longnose Snakes	USA and Mexico	1
Rhynchocalamus	Kukri Snakes	Balkans, Asia Minor, Middle East and Arabia	2
Rhynchophis	Rhinoceros/Rhino Rat Snake	N Vietnam and China	1
Salvadora	Patchnose Snakes	USA and Mexico	7
Saphenophis	Saphenophis Snakes	Colombia and Ecuador	3
Scaphiodontophis	Neckband Snakes	Mexico, Central America and Colombia	2
Scaphiophis	African Shovel-Nosed Snakes	W & E Africa	2
Scolecophis	Black-Banded Snake	Central America	1
Seminatrix	Black Swamp Snake	USA	1
Senticolis	Green Rat Snake	USA, Mexico, Central America	1
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	9
Simophis	False Coral Snakes	Brazil and Paraguay	2
Sinonatrix	(Chinese) Water Snakes	China, SE Asia	4
Siphlophis	Spotted Night Snakes	Panama and South America	5
Sonora	Ground Snakes	USA and Mexico	3
Sordellina	Dotted Ground Snake	Brazil	1
Spalerosophis	Diadem Snakes	N & W Africa, Somalia, Middle East, Arabia, C Asia, Indian subcontinent	5
Spilotes	Chicken Snake	S Mexico, Central and South America	1
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	2
Stilosoma	Short-Tailed Snake	USA	1
Stoliczkaia	Red Snakes	India, Malaysia, Indonesia	2
Storeria	Brown and Redbelly Snakes	USA and Mexico	4
Symphimus	White-Lipped Snakes	Mexico and Belize	2
Sympholis	Mexican Short-Tail Snake	Mexico	1
Synophis	Fishing Snakes	Colombia and Ecuador	4
Tachymenis	Slender Snakes	South America	7	Venomous
Taeniophallus		Surinam, Brazil, French Guiana	1
Tantalophis	Oaxacan Cat-Eyed Snake	Mexico	1
Tantilla	Black-Headed, Flathead, Crowned and Centipede Snakes	USA, Mexico, Central and South America	62
Tantillita	Dwarf Short-Tail Snakes	Mexico and Central America	3
Telescopus	Tiger and Cat Snakes	Africa, Arabia, Middle East, Mediterranean, Caucasus, C Asia, Pakistan	12
Tetralepis	Bluebelly Java Snake	Indonesia	1
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	3	Dangerously venomous
Thermophis	Bailey's Snake	China (Tibet)	1
Thrasops	Black Tree Snakes	W & E Africa	3
Tomodon	Pampas Snakes	South America	3
Trachischium	Worm-Eating Snakes	Indian subcontinent, China (Tibet)	5
Tretanorhinus	Swamp and Water Snakes	Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, N South America	4
Trimetopon	Tropical Ground Snakes	Panama and Costa Rica	6
Trimorphodon	Lyre Snakes	USA, Mexico and Central America	2
Tropidoclonion	Lined Snake	USA	1
Tropidodipsas	Snail-Eating Snakes and Snail Suckers	Mexico and Guatemala	3
Tropidodryas	Serra Snakes	Brazil	2
Tropidonophis	Keelbacks	Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Australia	18
Umbrivaga	Tropical Forest Snakes	N South America	3
Uromacer	Pointed Snakes	Hispaniola	4
Uromacerina	Sao Paolo Sharp Snake	Brazil	1
Urotheca	False Coral Snakes	Mexico, Central America and N South America	9
Virginia	Earth Snakes	USA	3
Waglerophis	Wagler's Snake	South America	1
Xenelaphis	Brown Snakes	SE Asia	2
Xenochrophis	Keelbacks and Asiatic Water Snakes	Afghanistan, Indian subcontinent, China and SE Asia	10
Xenodermus	Java Tubercle Snake	SE Asia	1
Xenodon	False Fer-de-Lances	Mexico, Central and South America	5
Xenopholis	Ground Snakes	South America	2
Xenoxybelis		South America	1
Xylophis	Mountain Snakes	India	2
Zaocys				Now viewed by some authorities as a synonym of Ptyas

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