Xenodontinae
| Xenodontinae | |
|---|---|
| A xenodontine snake, Xenodon dorbignyi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Xenodontinae Cope, 1895 |
Xenodontinae is a subfamily of snakes in the family Colubridae.
Xenodontinae are a highly diverse subfamily of snakes, in which many species may look alike, but are actually very different. Their hemipenial morphology serves as a crucial taxonomic tool for distinguishing genera and species.
The subfamily Xenodontinae encompasses a number of rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous), mildly venomous snake genera found in South America and the Caribbean. Members of the subfamily Xenodontinae are by definition closer relatives to the genus Xenodon than they are to the genus Dipsas. Some authors consider Xenodontinae and Dipsadinae to be synonymous. If the two names are used synonymously, then Dipsadinae is the correct name because it is older.