COLUBRID

any member of the most common family of snakes, Colubridae, characterized by complete absence of hindlimbs, absence of the left lung, and lack of teeth on the premaxilla and usually having a loose facial structure, relatively few head scales, and ventral scales as wide as the body. There are more than 1,500 species, accounting for two-thirds or more of the world's snakes. Most have solid and conical teeth; some have grooved fangs at the rear of the upper jaw and venom, usually of a paralyzing kind. Because of the position of the fangs and the small size of the mouth, a bite unaccompanied by chewing is rarely harmful to humans. In a few species the fangs are approximately under the eye, and these may be capable of a single effective bite. Most colubrids lay eggs, but some (especially the aquatic forms) are live-bearing. Colubrids occur in virtually all habitats and are the only snakes represented in cold regions.