Largest family of reptiles

The largest taxonomic family of reptiles is Colubridae, with 2,105 species across 249 genera as of October 2023 according to the Reptile Database. This equates to 17.5% of all reptiles. Colubrid snakes can be found on every continent bar Antarctica and includes familiar groups such as grass snakes, garter snakes, king snakes, whip snakes and corn snakes.

Most are harmless but there are a few venomous species, including the boomslang (Dispholidus typus).

Colubridae sits within the Squamata, which with 11,671 species (out of a total 12,060) is by far the largest order of reptiles; the group includes Sauria (lizards), Serpentes (snakes) and Amphisbaenia (worm lizards).