Biochemical evaluation of colubrid snake phylogeny*

Abstract

Quantitative biochemical comparisons of albumin differences within the snake family Colubridae were performed, using micro‐complement fixation analysis. These tests support the recognition of the subfamilies Colubrinae and Natricinae, and corroborate their distinctness from snakes usually placed in the subfamilies Xenodontinae and Lycodontinae. Genetic differentiation within each of the two latter subfamilies is much greater than that measured within either the Colubrinae or the Natricinae. Reallocation of some genera and recognition of some additional taxa are proposed and a summary classification of the revised family Colubndae is presented.