Elapidae
/ɪˈlæpɪdiː/noun
A taxonomic family of mostly venomous snakes, including cobras, mambas, coral snakes, kraits, and taipans.
Did you know?Elapidae includes some of the world’s most medically significant snakes, whose predominantly neurotoxic venoms can disrupt the nervous system and paralyze breathing.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἔλλοψ (éllops)
“A kind of snake; the precise identity of the ancient animal is uncertain.”
18th Century
Scientific Latin
Elaps
“A genus name formed from the Greek serpent term and used in early zoological classification.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Elapidae
“The family name built from Elaps with the zoological family suffix -idae.”
19th Century
English
elapid
“A snake belonging to the family Elapidae.”
Modern English
English
Elapidae
“The recognized family containing cobras, mambas, coral snakes, kraits, taipans, and related snakes.”