| Acanthophis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Acanthophis laevis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Acanthophis Daudin, 1803[1] |
| Species | |
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See taxonomy | |
Acanthophis is a genus of elapid snakes. Commonly called death adders, they are native to Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands, and are among the most venomous snakes in the world. Despite their common name, they are not adders at all and belong to the Elapidae family (like cobras). The name of the genus derives from the Ancient Greek akanthos/ἄκανθος ('spine') and ophis/ὄφις ('snake'), referring to the spine on the death adder's tail.
Eight species are listed by ITIS,[2] though it remains unclear how many species this genus includes, with figures ranging from 4 to 15 species being quoted.
- ^ "Acanthophis". Dahms Tierleben. [www.dahmstierleben.de/systematik/Reptilien/Squamata/Serpentes/colubroidea/Elapidae].
- ^ "Acanthophis ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 March 2011.