ophidia

Ophidia is a taxonomic grouping that encompasses all snakes. Snakes are elongated, legless reptiles belonging to the suborder Serpentes, which is part of the order Squamata, also containing lizards. They are characterized by their flexible jaws, allowing them to swallow prey much larger than their heads. While some snakes are venomous, possessing specialized fangs and glands to inject toxins, many are non-venomous and kill their prey through constriction.

The diversity of snakes is vast, with species found on every continent except Antarctica, in a wide range of habitats from oceans to deserts. They exhibit a remarkable array of sizes, from the tiny Barbados thread snake, measuring only a few centimeters, to the massive reticulated python and green anaconda, which can exceed several meters in length. Their diets vary significantly, including insects, rodents, birds, eggs, and even other reptiles. Ophidians play crucial roles in their ecosystems as both predators and prey. Reproduction in snakes typically involves laying eggs, though some species are viviparous, giving birth to live young.