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.^[1]

Toxicofera
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.^[2][3][4]

Cladistics

The Toxicofera combines the following groups from traditional classification:^[1]

• 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)