Knowra Elapidae Elapidae Elapidae is a family of venomous snakes whose members include cobras, mambas, kraits, coral snakes, and sea snakes. Most deliver venom through fixed, hollow fangs near the front of the upper jaw.
Snake : A limbless, elongated reptile with a flexible skull and no external ears or eyelids. Elapids are one family within the broader group of snakes.
Cobra : A venomous snake that can spread a hood by extending ribs behind its head. Cobras are among the best-known elapids, with hood displays used in defense.
Venom gland : A modified salivary gland that produces venom in many snakes and other animals. Elapid venom is made in glands connected to the front fangs.
Antivenom : An antibody-based medicine that binds and neutralizes components of animal venom. Antivenoms are made for particular medically important elapid venoms or regional mixtures.
Viperidae : A family of venomous snakes that includes vipers, pit vipers, and adders. Vipers usually have long, hinged front fangs, unlike elapids' shorter fixed fangs.
Proteroglyph : A snake with short, fixed, grooved fangs at the front of the upper jaw. This fang arrangement is characteristic of elapids and distinguishes them from vipers.
Mamba : A long, fast-moving African elapid in the genus Dendroaspis. Mambas illustrate the family’s diversity beyond hooded cobras.
Snakebite : An injury caused when a snake's teeth puncture skin, sometimes delivering venom. Elapid bites can inject venom through fixed front fangs.
Snakebite envenoming : A potentially life-threatening illness caused by venom injected during a snakebite. Elapid envenoming can cause rapid paralysis and requires appropriate clinical care.
Colubridae : A large and diverse family of snakes, most of which are nonvenomous to humans. Many colubrids lack the front-fang arrangement characteristic of elapids.
Show all 26