Venomous snakes in Illinois and elsewhere.

The early evolution of venomous snakes is not well understood because of the variety of tooth types and a dearth of fossil material showing maxillary bones with fangs in place.
The oldest fossils I have located are from the Early Miocene (ca 5 my BP), which is not too long ago. Both viperids and elapids are known, but they are very similar to living forms, so one could presume they have had an extended earlier history.

Venomous Snakes
There are three major types of venomous snakes in the world, if mildly venomous types, such as Heterodon, are excluded. Categorization has mainly been based on the shapes of their maxillary bones and the positions of the fang-like teeth on the maxillaries. Se below for those considered more ancestral (Opisthogyphous) to those believed more specialized (Protero. & Soleno.) :

Opisthoglyphous (Rear-fanged snakes) Proteroglyphous (Front-fanged snakes: cobras, sea snakes, coral snakes, mambas, kraits) Solenoglyphous (Moveable-fanged snakes: (vipers, pit vipers) rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, bushmasters)
:

Rear-fanged snakes are generally believed to have been be the earliest venomous snakes, but there is no fossil evidence for this. However, if we assume this to be the case, then the following slide shows how this might have happened.

To change to a solenogyphus snake would need to shorten maxilla

Rear-fanged snake
Maxilla is movable and rotates on this surface

We have three rear-fanged snakes in Illinois, the 1) Ring-necks, the 2) Flatheaded, and 3) the Hognoses. None of these are known to bite people, so they are not considered dangerous. See below.

Few people in this area know that Ringneck snakes are rear-fanged. The genus Diadophis occurs over much of the eastern U. S. (see map below), but I dont think a bite from this snake has ever been reported. It never gets more than about 15 inches long, and usually is quite common, especially in rocky, limestone regions. There are two subspecies in Illinois, the Prairie Ringneck, D. punctatus arnyi and the Northern Ringneck, D. p. edwardsii.

Diadophis skull showing slightly enlarged rear fang

Prairie

Northern

The rear-fanged snakes of the genus Tantilla include a very large group, but most of the species are found to the southern and western U. S. They are all small snakes not known to bite, so they can be easily handled without fear. Only one species occurs in IIIinois, and it is on the endangered species list, so it is a rarity in the state.

Flathead snake: Tantilla gracilis

The Hognosed snakes of the genus Heterodon, are known colloquially as Puff Adders, because they can flatten their neck somewhat like a cobra. There are two species in the state, one that used to be common in this area (H. platyrhinos), and the other which is found only in very sandy areas (H. nasicus). Both species have enlarged rear fangs (see below) with which they puncture their toad prey. Again, this is a snake that rarely bites, so it usually can be handled with impunity. Very few bites have been reported for either species, and those that have been bitten indicate that the venom is not very toxic.

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Heterodon nasicus

Western hognose snake: Heterodon nasicus

Scolecophidia
Serpentes

Alethinophidia

Living snake families

Macrostomata

Caenophidia Colubroidia

Solenoglyphous snakes in
Illinois
Copperheads
Cottonmouth

Massasauga Timber Rattlesnake

Northern Copperhead: Agkitrodon contortrix mokasen

Southern Copperhead : Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix

A. c. contortrix

A. c. mokasen

There are five copperhead subspecies in the U.S. Only two of which occur in Illinois: Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix and A. c. mokasen. Interestingly, the females of all the subspecies are more colorful than the males.

Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus

A juvenile cottonmouth with yellow tail..

Note: None in Madison Co.

Monroe Co., nr Fults. Now gone?

Note the 9

enlarged head
scales in the genus Sistrurus.

9 enlarged head scales in genus Sistrurus

Eastern Massasauga: Sistrurus catenatus

Used to be in Madison Co.

Clinton Co., near. Carlyle Lake

Timber rattlesnake: Crotalus horridus

Still in Effingham area

Illinois Snakes
Colubrine Snakes
Worm snakes Mud snake Racers Kingsnakes Rat snakes Green snakes Bull snake

C. a. vermis

C. a. helenae

nr Chester

Black Racer: Coluber constrictor priapus

C. c. flaviventris

C. c. priapus

Monroe Co.

E. o. spiloides

Now Pantherophis, not Elaphe

Now Liochlorophis vernalis

Natricine
Garder snakes (2) Ribbon snakes (2)

snakes

Water snakes (6)

Queen snake Crayfish snake Brown snake Redbelly snake

Lined snake
Earth snake Kirtlands snake

Mississippi Green water snake: Nerodia cyclopion

Kirtlands snake: Clonophis kirtlandi

Venomous snakes in Illinois

Scolecophidia
Serpentes

Alethinophidia

Living snake families

Macrostomata

Caenophidia Colubroidia

To change to a solenogyphus snake would need to shorten maxilla

Rear-fanged snake
Maxilla is movable and rotates on this surface

Hognosed snakes

or Puff adders

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Northern Copperhead: Agkitrodon contortrix mokasen

Southern Copperhead : Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix

There are five copperhead subspecies in the U.S. Only two of which occur in Illinois: Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix and A. c. mokasen. Interestingly, the females of all the subspecies are more colorful than the males.

Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus

A juvenile cottonmouth with yellow tail..

Note: None in Madison Co.

Monroe Co., nr Fults. Now gone?

Note the 9

enlarged head
scales in the genus Sistrurus.

9 enlarged head scales in genus Sistrurus

Eastern Massasauga: Sistrurus catenatus

Clinton Co., near. Carlyle Lake

Timber rattlesnake: Crotalus horridus

To change to a solenogyphus snake would need to shorten maxilla

Rear-fanged snake
Maxilla is movable and rotates on this surface

Class Reptilia
Sublass Diapsida
Infraclass Lepidosaurimorpha
Superorder Lepidosauria (Includes Rhynchocephalians)

Order Squamata
(includes lizards, amphisbaenids, and snakes)

Suborder Serpentes or Ophidia

(Incudes only snakes)

A principle adaptation in snakes is their ability to feed on large prey. Everything we see in snake anatomy seems pointed toward this end. Because they cannot chew, their prey must be swallowed whole. Note the slides below which shows how they do this.

Note that cartilaginous rings surround the trachea so that it remains open for inhalation and exhalation during the swallowing process. Snake lungs are very elongate and internally diverse.

ectopterygoid

supratemporal

The major changes we see in snakes when compared with lizards are associated with large-sized food objects which must be swallowed whole. Starting anteriorly and moving posteriorly we see:
1) The two mandibles are not fused medially, but are attached by a stretchable symphysial ligament so the mouth can be opened widely. 2) The premaxillae are fused medially and are not rigidly attached to the rostrum as in lizards. 3) The maxillaries, palatines, and pterygoids are all movable and have teeth. 4) The teeth are longer, curved posteriorly (to embed more deeply when the prey attempts to escape), and are on movable bones (to increase contact with prey when in the mouth). 5) The braincase is completely surrounded by bone (for isolation from the prey as it moves down the anterior esophageal area). 6) Elongate supratemporal bones with quadrate bones attached posteriorly (for shifting the gape farther back and increasing its size).

vomeronasal organ = Jackobsons

Palate

Lizards
Lower jaw

symphysial ligament

Developmentally, snakes are similar to other vertebrates, but as time passes they begin to coil and lengthen (see next slide). During this lengthening phase the viscera in the body cavity also lengthens, so when snake viscera is examined it appears quite elongated, and different from what lizard viscera would look like (see below).

Stage 18

Stage 20

Stage 26

Somite

Trunk starts short, then increases in length.

Snake viscera in two parts.

Heart

anterior

posterior

Nerodia ?

Snake vertebrae are only slightly different from lizard vertebrae, but with lengthening theres a lot more of them. Two additional processes, the zygosphene and zygantrum have been added to stabilize the long vertebral column dorso-ventrally. When a snake extends its neck or body out a long way to reach another purchase, the two above processes keep it from sagging too much in the middle.

How snakes move

(See below)
Lateral undulation concertina sidewinding rectilinear

Lateral undulatory locomotion

Concertina locomotion

Sidewinding

In heavy-bodied snakes such as boas, pythons, and vipers.

Rectilinear locomotion

interscutali

inferior costo-cutaneous

Ventral scale

superior costo-cutaneous

Gliding snake from East Indies

Hind limb vestiges in living snakes

A considerable number of living snakes have vestiges of hind limbs. When this character is present, systematists generally consider it an ancestral trait, and thus, those snakes that have it as more primitive. See the slide below for two examples of this.

Eyelash boa
ilium

pubis

femur

3 wormsnakes

Immovable maxilla

Braincase only partly covered posteriorly

Epipterygoid present

Teeth not recurved

Supratemporals thin sheets on lateral edge parietals

Tegu lizard
Tupinambis nigropunctatus

Primitive skull roof

Immovable palatines & pterygoids mostly without teeth

Teeth on maxilla Teeth on palatines

Teeth on pterygoids Maxilla, palatines, and pterygoids all movable.

Enclosed braincase supratemporal

recurved teeth

quadrate No epipterygoid

Python argus

Intramandibular joint

Fossil snakes
Pachyrhachis problematicus (late Cretaceous of Israel) Hassiophis terrasanctus (late Cretaceous of Israel) Dinilysia patagonica (late Cretaceous of S. America) Yurlunggur camfieldensis (Late Oligo. to E. Mio. Australia) Wonambi naracoortensis (Pleistocene of Australia; Eocene rest of world)

Living snakes

Pachyrhachis problematicus (Late Cretaceous of Israel)

Pachyrhachis, another interpretation

Dinilysia
Supratemporals in lizardlike position

From late Cretaceous ( 70 my BP) of South America A primitive snake dorsal view

No recurved maxillary teeth ? Maxillaries not moveable

Palatines and pterygoids not moveable, but toothed

ventral view

Late Oligocene to early Miocene of Australia

Yurlunggur camfieldensis (E Miocene of Queensland, Australia

Synapomorphy
If a shared homologue is found in (or inferred to occur in) a common ancestor, and if it is thought to have originated in that ancestor and not in an earlier ancestor, then the shared homologue is termed a synapomorphy.
According to cladistics, only synapomorphic characters can be used in phylogenetic reconstruction.

Symplesiomorphy
If the shared homologue is found in (or inferred to occur in) the common ancestor of the subject taxon, but is thought to have originated as an evolutionary novelty in an earlier ancestor, then the homologue is termed a symplesiomorphy. According to cladistics, symplesiomorphic characters cannot be used in phylogenetic reconstruction.

Serpentes

Scolecophidia

Living snake families

Alethinophidia
Macrostomata

Caenophidia Colubroidia

Scolecophidea: Gr. scolec + ophidea = worm + snake

Alethinophidea: Gr. aleth + ophidea = real or authentic + snake.

Scolecophidia
Blind or Worm Snakes
Includes three families:

Anomalepididae
Leptotyphlopidae

Typhlopidae

The worm snakes are very specialized, and probably are not ancestral (although they are touted as such by some) to the Alethinophidia (or normal snakes) Most of the fossil snakes found do not show any of the scolecophidian specializations.

Typhiophis squamosus

Worm Snake Quadrate

Very specialized skull

A Scolecophidian skull

Scolecophidae

Synapomorphies

Anomochilidae
1) No teeth on premaxilla, palatines, or pterygoids. 2) Dentary and maxillary teeth short, with stout bases. 3) Ectopterygoid element reduced to a small splint within the pterygo-maxillary ligament.

These are derived, not primitive snake characters! So I disagree with the phylogeny in the text.
Content: Two Species.- Anomochilus leonardi (Malaysia and Sabah in Borneo) and A. weberi (Sumatra and Kalimantan

in Borneo)

A very specialized skull

Anomochilus weberi

Synapomorphies

Aniliidae
1) Angular and splenial elements of lower jaw absent. 2) Tips of hemipenial lobes dicoidal. 3) Eye reduced in size and covered by a transparent scale. 4) Posterior superficial palate strongly bilobed and turned dorsally into orbitonasal trough. 5) Lacrimal foramen entirely within posterior wall of prefrontal.

Content: One species.- Anilius scytale (A burrowing snake that is a specialized feeder) Feeds on elongate vertebrates, primarily caecilians, amphisbaenians, eels, and other snakes.

Distribution: See map below

Anilius scytale

Synapomorphies

Uropeltidae
1) Hemipenis undivided (?). 2) Sulcus spermaticus unforked. 3) Premaxillary teeth absent. 4) Broadened cultriform process of basisphenoid. 5) Vomerine processes of premaxilla reduced. 6) Fovea dentis of occipital condyle reduced or absent.

Content: 2 subfamilies, 9 genera and ca 55 species.

Distribution: See map below

Cylindrophis rufus

This is a lizard-like
Quadrate and supratemporal Maxilla not loose

Palatines and pterygoids not movable

Uropeltis m. macrolepis

Synapomorphies

Boidae

1) Supraorbital element present. 2) Levator anguli oris muscle lost.

Content: 3 subfamilies, ca 20 genera, and ca 74 species

Subfamilies: Boinae (9 genera, 33 species)

Pythoninae (ca 8 genera, 26 species) Southern Africa,

southern Asia from India, eastward throughout the Indoaustralian Archipeligo and Australia.

Erycinae (3 genera, 15 species) Central and northern Africa,

southern Europe, and southwestern Asia

Jaw articulation far back.

Elongate quadrate widens gape by moving jaw articulation posteriorly..

posterior

Young copperhead using wiggling tail as a lure (Can you ID the anuran?).

Areas where snakes are not found.

There are no colubrid snakes in Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Tasmania, or southern South America.

Illinois Snakes
Colubrine Snakes
Worm snakes Mud snake Racers Kingsnakes Rat snakes Green snakes Bull snake

C. a. vermis

C. a. helenae

nr Chester

Black Racer: Coluber constrictor priapus

C. c. flaviventris

C. c. priapus

Monroe Co.

E. o. spiloides

Now Pantherophis, not Elaphe

Now Liochlorophis vernalis

Natricine
Garder snakes (2) Ribbon snakes (2)

snakes

Water snakes (6)

Queen snake Crayfish snake Brown snake Redbelly snake

Lined snake
Earth snake Kirtlands snake

Mississippi Green water snake: Nerodia cyclopion

Kirtlands snake: Clonophis kirtlandi

RINGNECK SNAKES
Genus Diadophis

Diadophis skull showing slightly enlarged rear fang

The Hognosed snakes of the genus Heterodon, are known colloquially as Puff Adders, because they can flatten their neck somewhat like a cobra. There are two species in the state, one that used to be common in this area (H. platyrhinos), and the other which is found only in very sandy areas (H. nasicus). Both species have enlarged rear fangs (see below) with which they puncture their toad prey. Again, this is a snake that rarely bites, so it usually can be handled with impunity. Very few bites have been reported for either species, and those that have indicate that the venom is not very toxic.

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Heterodon nasicus

Western hognose snake: Heterodon nasicus

Scolecophidia
Serpentes

Alethinophidia

Living snake families

Macrostomata

Caenophidia Colubroidia

Solenoglyphous snakes in
Illinois
Copperheads
Cottonmouth

Massasauga Timber Rattlesnake

Northern Copperhead: Agkitrodon contortrix mokasen

Southern Copperhead : Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix

A. c. contortrix

A. c. mokasen

There are five copperhead subspecies in the U.S. Only two of which occur in Illinois: Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix and A. c. mokasen. Interestingly, the females of all the subspecies are more colorful than the males.

Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus

A juvenile cottonmouth with yellow tail..

Note: None in Madison Co.

Monroe Co., nr Fults. Now gone?

Note the 9

enlarged head
scales in the genus Sistrurus.

9 enlarged head scales in genus Sistrurus

Eastern Massasauga: Sistrurus catenatus

Used to be in Madison Co.

Clinton Co., near. Carlyle Lake

Timber rattlesnake: Crotalus horridus

Still in Effingham area

Illinois Snakes
Colubrine Snakes
Worm snakes Mud snake Racers Kingsnakes Rat snakes Green snakes Bull snake

C. a. vermis

C. a. helenae

nr Chester

Black Racer: Coluber constrictor priapus

C. c. flaviventris

C. c. priapus

Monroe Co.

E. o. spiloides

Now Pantherophis, not Elaphe

Now Liochlorophis vernalis

Natricine
Garder snakes (2) Ribbon snakes (2)

snakes

Water snakes (6)

Queen snake Crayfish snake Brown snake Redbelly snake

Lined snake
Earth snake Kirtlands snake

Mississippi Green water snake: Nerodia cyclopion

Kirtlands snake: Clonophis kirtlandi

Venomous snakes in Illinois

Scolecophidia
Serpentes

Alethinophidia

Living snake families

Macrostomata

Caenophidia Colubroidia

To change to a solenogyphus snake would need to shorten maxilla

Rear-fanged snake
Maxilla is movable and rotates on this surface

Hognosed snakes

or Puff adders

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Northern Copperhead: Agkitrodon contortrix mokasen

Southern Copperhead : Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix

There are five copperhead subspecies in the U.S. Only two of which occur in Illinois: Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix and A. c. mokasen. Interestingly, the females of all the subspecies are more colorful than the males.

Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus

A juvenile cottonmouth with yellow tail..

Note: None in Madison Co.

Monroe Co., nr Fults. Now gone?

Note the 9

enlarged head
scales in the genus Sistrurus.

9 enlarged head scales in genus Sistrurus

Eastern Massasauga: Sistrurus catenatus

Clinton Co., near. Carlyle Lake

Timber rattlesnake: Crotalus horridus

To change to a solenogyphus snake would need to shorten maxilla

Rear-fanged snake
Maxilla is movable and rotates on this surface

Class Reptilia
Sublass Diapsida
Infraclass Lepidosaurimorpha
Superorder Lepidosauria (Includes Rhynchocephalians)

Order Squamata
(includes lizards, amphisbaenids, and snakes)

Suborder Serpentes or Ophidia

(Incudes only snakes)

A principle adaptation in snakes is their ability to feed on large prey. Everything we see in snake anatomy seems pointed toward this end. Because they cannot chew, their prey must be swallowed whole. Note the slides below which shows how they do this.

Note that cartilaginous rings surround the trachea so that it remains open for inhalation and exhalation during the swallowing process. Snake lungs are very elongate and internally diverse.

ectopterygoid

supratemporal

The major changes we see in snakes when compared with lizards are associated with large-sized food objects which must be swallowed whole. Starting anteriorly and moving posteriorly we see:
1) The two mandibles are not fused medially, but are attached by a stretchable symphysial ligament so the mouth can be opened widely. 2) The premaxillae are fused medially and are not rigidly attached to the rostrum as in lizards. 3) The maxillaries, palatines, and pterygoids are all movable and have teeth. 4) The teeth are longer, curved posteriorly (to embed more deeply when the prey attempts to escape), and are on movable bones (to increase contact with prey when in the mouth). 5) The braincase is completely surrounded by bone (for isolation from the prey as it moves down the anterior esophageal area). 6) Elongate supratemporal bones with quadrate bones attached posteriorly (for shifting the gape farther back and increasing its size).

vomeronasal organ = Jackobsons

Palate

Lizards
Lower jaw

symphysial ligament

Developmentally, snakes are similar to other vertebrates, but as time passes they begin to coil and lengthen (see next slide). During this lengthening phase the viscera in the body cavity also lengthens, so when snake viscera is examined it appears quite elongated, and different from what lizard viscera would look like (see below).

Stage 18

Stage 20

Stage 26

Somite

Trunk starts short, then increases in length.

Snake viscera in two parts.

Heart

anterior

posterior

Nerodia ?

Snake vertebrae are only slightly different from lizard vertebrae, but with lengthening theres a lot more of them. Two additional processes, the zygosphene and zygantrum have been added to stabilize the long vertebral column dorso-ventrally. When a snake extends its neck or body out a long way to reach another purchase, the two above processes keep it from sagging too much in the middle.

How snakes move

(See below)
Lateral undulation concertina sidewinding rectilinear

Lateral undulatory locomotion

Concertina locomotion

Sidewinding

In heavy-bodied snakes such as boas, pythons, and vipers.

Rectilinear locomotion

interscutali

inferior costo-cutaneous

Ventral scale

superior costo-cutaneous

Gliding snake from East Indies

Hind limb vestiges in living snakes

A considerable number of living snakes have vestiges of hind limbs. When this character is present, systematists generally consider it an ancestral trait, and thus, those snakes that have it as more primitive. See the slide below for two examples of this.

Eyelash boa
ilium

pubis

femur

3 wormsnakes

Immovable maxilla

Braincase only partly covered posteriorly

Epipterygoid present

Teeth not recurved

Supratemporals thin sheets on lateral edge parietals

Tegu lizard
Tupinambis nigropunctatus

Primitive skull roof

Immovable palatines & pterygoids mostly without teeth

Teeth on maxilla Teeth on palatines

Teeth on pterygoids Maxilla, palatines, and pterygoids all movable.

Enclosed braincase supratemporal

recurved teeth

quadrate No epipterygoid

Python argus

Intramandibular joint

Fossil snakes
Pachyrhachis problematicus (late Cretaceous of Israel) Hassiophis terrasanctus (late Cretaceous of Israel) Dinilysia patagonica (late Cretaceous of S. America) Yurlunggur camfieldensis (Late Oligo. to E. Mio. Australia) Wonambi naracoortensis (Pleistocene of Australia; Eocene rest of world)

Living snakes

Pachyrhachis problematicus (Late Cretaceous of Israel)

Pachyrhachis, another interpretation

Dinilysia
Supratemporals in lizardlike position

From late Cretaceous ( 70 my BP) of South America A primitive snake dorsal view

No recurved maxillary teeth ? Maxillaries not moveable

Palatines and pterygoids not moveable, but toothed

ventral view

Late Oligocene to early Miocene of Australia

Yurlunggur camfieldensis (E Miocene of Queensland, Australia

Synapomorphy
If a shared homologue is found in (or inferred to occur in) a common ancestor, and if it is thought to have originated in that ancestor and not in an earlier ancestor, then the shared homologue is termed a synapomorphy.
According to cladistics, only synapomorphic characters can be used in phylogenetic reconstruction.

Symplesiomorphy
If the shared homologue is found in (or inferred to occur in) the common ancestor of the subject taxon, but is thought to have originated as an evolutionary novelty in an earlier ancestor, then the homologue is termed a symplesiomorphy. According to cladistics, symplesiomorphic characters cannot be used in phylogenetic reconstruction.

Serpentes

Scolecophidia

Living snake families

Alethinophidia
Macrostomata

Caenophidia Colubroidia

Scolecophidea: Gr. scolec + ophidea = worm + snake

Alethinophidea: Gr. aleth + ophidea = real or authentic + snake.

Scolecophidia
Blind or Worm Snakes
Includes three families:

Anomalepididae
Leptotyphlopidae

Typhlopidae

The worm snakes are very specialized, and probably are not ancestral (although they are touted as such by some) to the Alethinophidia (or normal snakes) Most of the fossil snakes found do not show any of the scolecophidian specializations.

Typhiophis squamosus

Worm Snake Quadrate

Very specialized skull

A Scolecophidian skull

Scolecophidae

Synapomorphies

Anomochilidae
1) No teeth on premaxilla, palatines, or pterygoids. 2) Dentary and maxillary teeth short, with stout bases. 3) Ectopterygoid element reduced to a small splint within the pterygo-maxillary ligament.

These are derived, not primitive snake characters! So I disagree with the phylogeny in the text.
Content: Two Species.- Anomochilus leonardi (Malaysia and Sabah in Borneo) and A. weberi (Sumatra and Kalimantan

in Borneo)

A very specialized skull

Anomochilus weberi

Synapomorphies

Aniliidae
1) Angular and splenial elements of lower jaw absent. 2) Tips of hemipenial lobes dicoidal. 3) Eye reduced in size and covered by a transparent scale. 4) Posterior superficial palate strongly bilobed and turned dorsally into orbitonasal trough. 5) Lacrimal foramen entirely within posterior wall of prefrontal.

Content: One species.- Anilius scytale (A burrowing snake that is a specialized feeder) Feeds on elongate vertebrates, primarily caecilians, amphisbaenians, eels, and other snakes.

Distribution: See map below

Anilius scytale

Synapomorphies

Uropeltidae
1) Hemipenis undivided (?). 2) Sulcus spermaticus unforked. 3) Premaxillary teeth absent. 4) Broadened cultriform process of basisphenoid. 5) Vomerine processes of premaxilla reduced. 6) Fovea dentis of occipital condyle reduced or absent.

Content: 2 subfamilies, 9 genera and ca 55 species.

Distribution: See map below

Cylindrophis rufus

This is a lizard-like
Quadrate and supratemporal Maxilla not loose

Palatines and pterygoids not movable

Uropeltis m. macrolepis

Synapomorphies

Boidae

1) Supraorbital element present. 2) Levator anguli oris muscle lost.

Content: 3 subfamilies, ca 20 genera, and ca 74 species

Subfamilies: Boinae (9 genera, 33 species)

Pythoninae (ca 8 genera, 26 species) Southern Africa,

southern Asia from India, eastward throughout the Indoaustralian Archipeligo and Australia.

Erycinae (3 genera, 15 species) Central and northern Africa,

southern Europe, and southwestern Asia

Jaw articulation far back.

Elongate quadrate widens gape by moving jaw articulation posteriorly..

posterior

Young copperhead using wiggling tail as a lure (Can you ID the anuran?).

Areas where snakes are not found.

There are no colubrid snakes in Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Tasmania, or southern South America.

Illinois Snakes
Colubrine Snakes
Worm snakes Mud snake Racers Kingsnakes Rat snakes Green snakes Bull snake

C. a. vermis

C. a. helenae

nr Chester

Black Racer: Coluber constrictor priapus

C. c. flaviventris

C. c. priapus

Monroe Co.

E. o. spiloides

Now Pantherophis, not Elaphe

Now Liochlorophis vernalis

Natricine
Garder snakes (2) Ribbon snakes (2)

snakes

Water snakes (6)

Queen snake Crayfish snake Brown snake Redbelly snake

Lined snake
Earth snake Kirtlands snake

Mississippi Green water snake: Nerodia cyclopion

Kirtlands snake: Clonophis kirtlandi

RINGNECK SNAKES
Genus Diadophis

Diadophis skull showing slightly enlarged rear fang

The Hognosed snakes of the genus Heterodon, are known colloquially as Puff Adders, because they can flatten their neck somewhat like a cobra. There are two species in the state, one that used to be common in this area (H. platyrhinos), and the other which is found only in very sandy areas (H. nasicus). Both species have enlarged rear fangs (see below) with which they puncture their toad prey. Again, this is a snake that rarely bites, so it usually can be handled with impunity. Very few bites have been reported for either species, and those that have indicate that the venom is not very toxic.

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Eastern hognose snake: Heterodon platyrhinos

Heterodon nasicus

Western hognose snake: Heterodon nasicus

Coral snakes are proteroglyphous (front-fanged

Coral snakes are not found near Illinois, but as Milk snakes are often banded with red, so they have been confused with and considered coral snakes by some.

Texas Coral Snake: Micrurus fulvius tener

Rear-fanged snakes (Opisthoglyphous)

Rattlesnake striking. Note mouth is wide open

Fangs are pointing almost straight at prey

canal

Fixed-fanged snake (maxilla does not move)

Proteroglyphous snake

African Spitting Cobra Naja nigricollis

Mozambique spitting cobra: Naja ??

Australian Death adder: Acanthophis antarcticus

Australian Tiger-Snake: Notechis niger

Pelagic Sea Snake: Pelamis platurus

Azemiops feae
The most primitve living viper

The pit vipers are different from the true vipers in having a heat (infrared) sensitive pit (or hole) between the eye and the nostril (see slide below). The group occurs in both the old and new worlds (see map below). Old world genera have been considered more ancestral than New World because they are still oviparous, whereas all New World members (except the bushmaster) are viviparous. There are few other additional ancestral features to separate the two groups.

Bushmaster mouth: long fangs!

Solenoglyphous snake

Crotalus ruber ruber Red Diamond Rattlesnake

30 Rattlesnake Species
From the New World (North, Central and South America)

2 genera:
Crotalus and Sistrurus
plus
51 subspecies (if you recognize)

For a total of 81 taxa in all

Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake: Crotalus willardi

Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake: Crotalus adamanteus

Western diamondback rattlesnake: Crotalus atrox

Rock Rattlesnake: Crotalus lepidus

The Bushmaster is the only New World pit viper (Crotalinae) that lays eggs. All others (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths), are viviparous. However, most Old World pit vipers still lay eggs.

Bushmaster mouth: long fangs!

Bushmaster: Lachesis muta ssp

The fangs of venomous snakes are never bare as shone in many commercial publications. They are covered with a thin epithelial membrane which is a part of the oral cavity.

Rhinoceros viper: Bitis nasicornus from Africa

Horned viper: Bitis nasicornus

The Burrowing Asps: genus Atractaspis, appears to be a group of solenoglyphus snakes not very closely related to the true vipers. They dont have a viper-like head, and they dont look very viper-like. They have very elongate venom glands which apparently are not considered homologous to Duvernoys glands.

Burrowing asps: Atractaspis

Family Atractaspidae

Burrowing asps: genus Atractaspis

Mole viper: Atractaspis engaddensis

Burrowing asp: Atractaspis microlepidota

Heat sensitive organs in snakes

Fin