Toxicofera

Toxicofera (Greek or Latin for "those who carry toxins"), is a hypothetical clade of living Squamata (lizards and snakes). It includes about 4600 living species. This is all venomous reptile species, plus related non-venomous species.

Toxicofera
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Venomous snakes, such as the rattlesnake shown above, are the most well-known venomous squamates.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Sauropsida
Subclass:	Diapsida
Infraclass:	Lepidosauromorpha
Superorder:	Lepidosauria
Order:	Squamata
(unranked):	Toxicofera

The clade was identified when research showed that the evolution of venom was very ancient, and that it might have occurred only once.

Cladistics

The Toxicofera combines the following groups from traditional classification:

• Suborder Serpentes (snakes)
• Suborder Iguania (iguanas, agamid lizards, chameleons, etc.)
• Infraorder Anguimorpha, consisting of:
  • Family Varanidae (monitor lizards)
  • Family Anguidae (alligator lizards, glass lizards, etc.)
  • Family Helodermatidae (Gila monster and Mexican beaded lizard)

Toxicofera Media

• Python natalensis Smith 1840 white background

• Platecarpus tympaniticus.jpg

  New reconstruction of Platecarpus tympaniticus, based on skeletal reconstruction of specimen LACM 128319, upper Santonian–lowermost Campanian, Kansas, USA. Skeletal drawing was published by Lindgren J, Caldwell MW, Konishi T, Chiappe LM (2010).

• Zoology of Egypt (1898) (Varanus exanthematicus).png

  Zoology of Egypt (1898) (Varanus exanthematicus)

• Obamadon gracilis known fossil material.svg

  Obamadon gracilis known fossil material

• Iguana delicatissima - 1800-1839 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - (Iguana delicatissima).jpg

  Iguana delicatissima - 1800-1839 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - (Iguana delicatissima)