Xenophidia

Taxobox
name = Xenophidia


image_width = 250px
image_caption = King Cobra, an elapid.
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
superfamilia = Xenophidia
subdivision_ranks = Families
subdivision = See text.

Xenophidia ("Caenophidia") is a superfamily of the suborder Serpentes (snakes) that contains cobras, vipers, sea snakes and the majority of snake species. Almost all venomous snakes belong to this superfamily which is considered to be advanced from an evolutionary point of view. Additionally, the broad belly scales and rows of dorsal scales correspond to the vertebrae in Caenophidians, while they do not in Henophidians or Scolecophidians.

Caenophidia contains most of the diversity of extant snakes, with over 3,000 species. They are believed to be a recent evolutionary radiation, having evolved in the mid-Cenozoic.

Families

* Atractaspididae (mole vipers).
* Colubridae (rear-fanged snakes).
* Elapidae (cobras, mambas, coral snakes and kraits).
* Hydrophiidae (sea snakes).
* Viperidae (vipers, pit vipers and rattlesnakes).