Elapidae

Elapidae is a family of venomous snakes that includes many well-known species. Members are characterized by their relatively fixed, front-facing fangs, located at the front of the maxilla, through which they deliver primarily neurotoxic venom. The family comprises dozens of genera and hundreds of species, with a broad distribution in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. A major marine lineage includes sea snakes and sea kraits, while many species are terrestrial or arboreal.

Elapids vary from small, slender tree snakes to large, robust cobras and taipans. Venom is typically neurotoxic, affecting nerve transmission and muscle control, though some lineages possess additional venom components that can cause cytotoxic effects or coagulopathy. Diet commonly includes lizards, rodents, and birds. Reproduction is variable: most elapids are oviparous, laying eggs; several marine forms are viviparous or ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young.

Medical relevance is significant in regions with human contact, as bites can be life-threatening without prompt treatment. Antivenoms are available for many medically important species, and treatment emphasizes prompt medical care and, when appropriate, the use of antivenom. Prevention focuses on avoiding bites in areas with known elapid populations and exercising caution around snaked habitats.

Notable genera include Naja (cobras), Dendroaspis (mambas), Bungarus (kraits), Oxyuranus and Pseudechis (taipans and related snakes), Micrurus (coral snakes), Hydrophis and Pelamis (sea snakes), and Laticauda (sea kraits). Elapids play important roles in their ecosystems as predators of small vertebrates and as a focus of human-snake conflict in some regions.