Colubridae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of non-venomous snakes characterized by their varied sizes and habitats, which includes a wide range of species found in both terrestrial and aquatic environments
2. This group of snakes exhibits diverse behaviors and adaptations, inhabiting various ecosystems and showcasing different physical traits
3. Comprising mainly of non-poisonous serpents, this family is noted for its ecological roles and significant diversity across global regions

Etymology: Latin "coluber" meant "snake," and the family name is simply that noun with the taxonomic ending "-idae," which zoologists attach to family names. The suffix comes from Greek patronymic endings, so the name reads roughly as "belonging to the snake group." Naturalists used the label in the early nineteenth century, when the classification of snakes was still being sorted out. The family is best understood as a very large catch-all. It holds roughly two thousand species, more than half of all living snakes, and many of them are not closely related to one another. Its boundaries have shifted as researchers have studied snake anatomy and DNA, and some members that were once placed here have been moved elsewhere. A few members also have mildly venomous saliva delivered through enlarged rear teeth, so the "non-poisonous" description is a useful generalisation rather than a strict rule.