Elapid Snake
Elapid, any of the about 300 poisonous snake species belonging to the Elapidae family, with small fangs placed at the front of the upper jaw. Aquatic elapids may have paddle-shaped tails and other features suited to marine settings, but terrestrial elapids usually resemble the more numerous colubrids. Elapids are slim and agile animals. Elapids may be found in North America, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. In Australia, there are over 60 species of elapids.
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The majority of snakes in this family are tiny and harmless to humans, but it also includes some of the largest and most deadly snakes. A downward thrust from an elapid is followed by chewing. The venom is mostly neurotoxic, although it may also contain chemicals that harm body tissues or blood cells. The bite is generally painless, but death from heart and lung paralysis can happen quickly. The venom is mostly neurotoxic, although it may also contain chemicals that harm body tissues or blood cells. The bite is generally painless, but death from heart and lung paralysis can happen quickly. In Australia, there are over 60 species of elapids. Most species' venom contains neurotoxins, which are funnelled via their hollow fangs, and some may also include other harmful components in varying quantities. There are 55 genera in the family, with 360 species and over 170 subspecies.
Description
Terrestrial elapids feature long, thin bodies with smooth scales, a head covered in broad shields and not usually distinguishable from the neck, and eyes with circular pupils, similar to the Colubridae. Furthermore, their activity is generally extremely energetic, and the majority of them are oviparous. There are exceptions to all of these categories, such as the death adders (Acanthophis), which are small and plump, rough-scaled, extremely broad-headed, cat-eyed, slow ambush predators with partially fragmented heads shields. Sea snakes (the Hydrophiinae), which are sometimes regarded as a distinct family, have adapted to a marine lifestyle in a variety of ways and degrees. For swimming, they've evolved paddle-like tails and the capacity to excrete sal
Most have laterally compressed bodies, ventral scales that are considerably smaller, nostrils that are placed dorsally (no internasal scales), and they give birth to live offspring (viviparity). The loss of ventral scaling has hampered their terrestrial movement, but also helps them swim. This family's members come in a variety of sizes. Drysdalia species are tiny serpents that range in length from 50 cm (20 in) to 18 cm (7.1 in). Cobras, mambas, and taipans are medium to big snakes that may grow up to 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) in length.
Behaviour
The majority of elapids are terrestrial, however, some are quite arboreal (African Pseudohaje and Dendroaspis, Australian Hoplocephalus). Many species (such as Ogmodon, Parapistocalamus, Simoselaps, Toxicocalamus, and Vermicella) are specialist burrowers in either wet or dry habitats. Although some species have relatively broad diets (euryphagy), many taxa have limited prey preferences (stenophagy) and morphological adaptations, such as eating nearly exclusively on other serpents (especially the king cobra and kraits). If provoked, Elapids may show a series of warning signals, either overtly or subtly. If threatened, cobras and mambas rise their lower body parts, extend their hoods, and hiss; kraits coil up before hiding their heads down their bodies.
Sea snakes may breathe via their skin in general. Experiments with the yellow-bellied sea snake, Hydrophis platurus, have revealed that this species can meet around 20% of its oxygen needs this way, allowing for longer dives. Sea kraits (Laticauda spp.) are the sea snakes with the least aquatic adaptation. They have thicker bodies and ventral scaling, and their bodies are less compressed laterally. Elapids snakes spend much of their time on land, where they lay their eggs and digest prey.
Elapidae Lower Classifications
Many subfamilies of the Elapidae have been identified or suggested in the past, including the Elapidae, Hydrophiinae (sea snakes), Micrurinae (coral snakes), Acanthophiinae (Australian elapids), and Laticaudinae (Australian elapids) (sea kraits). There are currently none that are widely accepted. Molecular evidence supports reciprocal monophyly of two groups, African, Asian, and New World Elapinae against Australasian and maritime Hydrophiinae, based on techniques such as karyotyping, protein electrophoretic studies, immunological distance, and DNA sequencing. Although they are not sea snakes, Australian terrestrial elapids are technical 'hydrophiines.' The Laticauda and 'real sea snakes' are thought to have developed independently from Australasian land snakes.
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African cobras do not appear to be monophyletic, as do Asian cobras, coral snakes, and American coral snakes. Elaps was originally the type genus for the Elapidae, however, it was later transferred to another family. The Elapidae family has not been renamed, which is unusual in botany. Meanwhile, Elaps was renamed Homoroselaps and returned to the Elapidae family. Nagy et al. (2005), on the other hand, consider it a sister taxon to Atractaspis, which they believe should have been placed in the Atractaspidinae.
Species of Elapid
Acanthophis
Acanthophis is an elapid snake genus. Death adders are poisonous snakes endemic to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. They are among the world's most venomous snakes. The genus name comes from the Ancient Greek words akanthos and ophis, which allude to the spine on the tail of the death adder. ITIS lists seven species, however, it's uncertain how many species this genus contains, with estimates ranging from four to fifteen species. Death adders have a short, muscular body, triangular-shaped skulls, and tiny subocular scales, making them look like vipers.
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On top of that, they have vertical pupils and a lot of tiny scales on their heads. Their fangs are also longer and more movable than those of most other elapids, albeit they are still little compared to those of genuine vipers. Despite their name, they are not related to adders, who are members of the Viperidae family, although their convergent evolution has given them a similar appearance. It usually takes 2–3 years for them to reach adult size.
Females are somewhat bigger than men in general. They may also be recognised from other Australian snakes by a tiny, worm-like lure on the end of their tail that attracts prey. The majority of them have broad bands around their body, however, the colour varies based on where they live. The most common colours are black, grey, red, and yellow, but brown and greenish-grey are also common.
Aipysurus
Aipysurus is a venomous snake genus belonging to the Elapidae family. The genus contains species that may be found in warm waters ranging from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Bernard Germain de Lacépède provided the first description of the genus Aipysurus in 1804, along with his description of a new species found in Australian seas, Aipysurus laevis, the genus' type species. A drawing of the new species was included with the description. With Emydocephalus, the genus belongs to a tiny group of viviparous sea snakes (Hydrophiinae: Hydrophiini) that is largely limited to the waters between Timor, New Guinea, and northern Australia.
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Bungarus
Bungarus is a poisonous elapid snake genus that includes the kraits of South and Southeast Asia. Bungarus is a genus with 16 species. Kraits are generally between 1.0 and 1.5 metres (3 ft 3 in and 4 ft 11 in) in total length (including tail), however specimens as large as 2.0 metres (6 ft 7 in) have been seen. The banded krait (B. fasciatus) may reach a maximum size of 2.125 metres (6 ft 11.7 in). The smooth, glossy scales of most krait species are organised in dramatic, striped patterns of alternating black and light-coloured regions. This might be used as an aposematic colouration in its grassland and scrub jungle environment. The scales on the back's dorsal ridge are hexagonal.
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Cacophis
Cacophis is a genus of slightly poisonous snakes of the Elapidae family, usually known as crowned snakes. This genus is only found in Australia. The four species in the Cacophis genus are all poisonous, although they are not harmful to humans. Cacophis species are nocturnal predators that eat lizards and reptile eggs. Cacophis species all have a distinctive "crown" design on their heads, which is what gives them their common names.
Elapsoidea
The genus Elapsoidea includes poisonous elapid snakes such as venomous garter snakes and African garter snakes. They are unrelated to the harmless North American garter snake species, despite their popular names.
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Drysdalia
Drysdalia is a genus of snakes that belongs to the Elapidae family and is often known as crowned snakes. This genus contains three poisonous snakes that are not considered dangerous. Crowned snakes are tiny snakes with a total length of around 50 cm (20 inches) (including tail) but can be as short as 18 cm (7 inches). Normally, they are brown. Crowned snakes may be found in forests, swamps, and ancient woodlands. Frogs and lizards are the staple diet of Drysdalia. Keogh et al. in 2000 transferred the species formerly known as Drysdalia coronata (Schlegel, 1837), widely known as the crowned snake, to the genus Elapognathus Boulenger, 1896. Elapognathus coronatus is the right scientific name.
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Ephalophis
Grey's mudsnake (Ephalophis greyae), sometimes known as the mangrove seasnake, is a poisonous snake that belongs to the Elapidae family. The species is only found in northern Australia. Greyae has also been spelt grey, but it was named after Beatrice Grey, who collected the holotype, necessitating the use of a feminine possessive.
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Boulengerina
Boulengerina is a genus or subgenus of elapid snakes that are frequently referred to as water cobras due to their semiaquatic lifestyle. The genus has two species, both of which are located in central and southern Africa. Because water cobras are closely related to several species of Naja, some recent genetic investigations have proposed that the genus Boulengerina be synonymized with Naja. The species are formerly known as Paranaja multifasciata, now Naja (Boulengerina) multifasciata, were re-ranked as a subgenus within Naja by Wallach, Wüster, and Broadley, and included the two species already recognised as forming the genus Boulengerina plus Naja melanoleuca, as Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca, and the species formerly known as Boulenger.
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Denisonia
Denisonia is a venomous snake genus belonging to the Elapidae family. This genus is only found in Australia. D. devisi is a snake that is short, thick, and slightly flat. The eyes have a prominent iris and are placed near the top of the head. The colour of D. devisi ranges from yellowish-brown to olive green, with irregular, ragged-edged thin black lines that run over the body. Because both have thick, banded bodies, De Vis's banded snake is sometimes mistaken with death adders. The De Vis' banded snake differs in that its tail does not taper sharply and its head is not wide and triangular.
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Hemiaspis
Hemiaspis is a venomous snake genus belonging to the Elapidae family. Hemiaspis damelii and Hemiaspis signata, both endemic to Australia, are the only species in the genus.
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Dentition
Elapids have a pair of proteroglyphous fangs that are used to inject venom from glands at the back of the upper jaw. The first two teeth on each maxillary bone are the fangs, which are larger and hollow. At any one time, just one fang is in position on each side. The maxilla is a cross between normal colubrids (long, less movable) and viperids (short, more mobile) (very short, highly mobile).
The fangs of certain elapids (Acanthophis, taipan, mamba, and king cobra) fit into grooved slots on the buccal floor and are inclined backwards when the mouth is closed; some elapids (Acanthophis, taipan, mamba, and king cobra) have long fangs on fairly mobile maxillae and may perform rapid strikes. Spitting cobras, for example, are capable of spewing their venom through forward-facing apertures in their teeth for protection. When venom comes into contact with the eyes, it can inflict severe discomfort, if not blindness.
Distribution
Terrestrial elapids may be found in tropical and subtropical locations all over the world, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. Most require wet tropical settings, thus they aren't found in the Sahara or the Middle East, however, some may be found in the deserts of Mexico and Australia. Sea snakes are mostly found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific. They may be found in coastal waters and shallows, as well as coral reefs. Hydrophis platurus, on the other hand, has a range that stretches from the Pacific to the coastlines of Central and South America.
Venom
Elapidae venoms are mostly neurotoxic and used to restrain prey and defend themselves. PLA2 and three-finger toxins are the most common types of toxins (3FTx). Cardiotoxins and cytotoxins, which induce heart malfunction and cellular damage, respectively, are other hazardous components found in some species. Hemotoxins in cobra venom cause blood to coagulate or harden. All members are poisonous to various degrees, and some, such as the taipans, are regarded among the world's most venomous snakes based on their murine LD50 values. Large species, such as mambas and cobras, are hazardous because they may inject large amounts of venom in a single bite and/or strike at a high point proximal to the victim's brain, which is sensitive to neurotoxicity.
If bitten by any elapids, antivenom must be administered immediately. Spitting cobras' venom is more cytotoxic than neurotoxic. It harms local cells, particularly those in the eyes, which the snakes purposefully target. When the poison comes into contact with the eyes, it can cause severe discomfort, if not blindness. It is not deadly on the skin if no wound allows the poisons to enter the body.
The only way to treat Elapidae bites is with specific antivenoms. Mambas, Cobras, Najas, and a few other significant elapids have commercial monovalent and polyvalent antivenoms. Experimental antivenoms based on recombinant toxins have recently demonstrated that creating antivenoms with a broad spectrum of coverage is possible.
In conclusion, elapids are slim and agile animals with small fangs placed at the front of the upper jaw. Most species' venom contains neurotoxins, which are funnelled via their hollow fangs. Elapids may be found in North America, Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, and Australia. Elapidae is a family of snake-like species. Most have laterally compressed bodies, ventral scales that are considerably smaller, nostrils that are placed dorsally (no internasal scales), and they give birth to live offspring (viviparity) The majority of elapids are terrestrial, however, some are quite arboreal.
FAQs on Elapid
1. Are Elapid Snakes Poisonous?
Answer: A downward stab with an elapid is followed by chewing. The venom is mostly neurotoxic, although it may also contain chemicals that harm bodily tissues or blood cells. The bite is generally painless, but death from heart and lung paralysis can happen quickly.
2. What is the World's Deadliest Snake?
Answer:
The king cobra is the biggest poisonous snake on the planet.
The poison of a black mamba may kill you in just two drops.
The bite of the Gaboon Viper is believed to be the most excruciating in the world.
The Mojave Rattlesnake is a venomous snake with a terrible temper.
The venom of the Inland Taipan is the most deadly in the world.
3. Is a Tiger Snake an Elapid?
Answer: It's a large elapid with a thick-set build that measures around 3 feet long. The chilly, wet regions of southern Australia, including much of Victoria, all of New South Wales (NSW), far southeast Queensland, Tasmania, southeast South Australia, and southwest Western Australia, are home to a variety of species (WA).
4. What is the Elapid Meaning?
Answer: Generally elapid is any member of the Elapidae family of poisonous snakes having hollow fangs, such as cobras and coral snakes.
