Snakes are classified as . . .
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Suborder: Serpentes.
Chordata , phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals.
The three features unique to chordates and found in all of them at least during early development are:
- The notochord, composed of gelatinous tissue and bound by a tough membrane
- A tubular nerve cord (or spinal cord), located above the notochord
- Gill slits leading into the pharynx, or anterior part of the digestive tract (the throat, in higher vertebrates). In addition, all have blood contained in vessels, and the tunicates and vertebrates have a ventrally located heart. All have a postanal tail, that is, an extension beyond the anus of the notochord or backbone and of the body-wall musculature, containing no internal organs.
In vertebrates, a backbone of bone or cartilage segments called vertebrae develops around the notochord; its upward projections partially surround the nerve cord. In many fishes and in early fossil amphibians and reptiles the notochord persists in the adult and is enclosed by the vertebrae; in higher vertebrates, however, it disappears during embryonic development.
There are two invertebrate subphyla: the Urochordata, or tunicates, and the Cephalochordata, or lancelets. A third invertebrate group, comprising the acorn worms and their relatives, shows affinities with chordates and has sometimes been considered a chordate subphylum, but is now often classified in a phylum of its own, the Hemichordata.
As far as the Indian snakes are concerned, they can be summoned under these families...
- Boidae: Sand boas and pythons
- Typhlopidae: worm snakes
- Uropeltidae: shieldtails
- Xenopeltidae: sun beam snake
- Achrochordidae: File snake
- Colubridae: common 'non venomous'/rear fanged snakes
- Elapidae: cobras, kraits, coral snakes
- Hydrophidae(sometimes treated as sub family hydrophinae of Elapidae): Sea snakes
- Viperidae: True vipers and pit vipers
SNAKE GROUPS
Snakes dangerous to man usually fall into two groups . . .
- Proteroglypha
- Solenoglypha
Their fangs and their venom best describe these two groups
Fangs
- The proteroglypha have, in front of the upper jaw and preceding the ordinary teeth, permanently erect fangs. These fangs are called fixed fangs.
- The solenoglypha have erectile fangs; that is, fangs they can raise to an erect position. These fangs are called folded fangs.
Venom
- The fixed-fang snakes (proteroglypha) usually have neurotoxic venoms. These venoms affect the nervous system, making the victim unable to breathe.
- The folded-fang snakes (solenoglypha) usually have hemotoxic venoms. These venoms affect the circulatory system, destroying blood cells, damaging skin tissues, and causing internal hemorrhaging.
Remember, however, that most poisonous snakes have both neurotoxic and hemotoxic venom. Usually one type of venom in the snake is dominant and the other is weak.
