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elapid

 
Dictionary: el·a·pid   (ĕl'ə-pĭd) pronunciation

n.
Any of several venomous snakes of the family Elapidae, which includes the cobras, mambas, and coral snakes.

adj.
Of or belonging to the family Elapidae.

[From New Latin Elapidae, family name, from Late Greek elaps, elap-, fish, variant of Greek ellops.]


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Any of about 200 species of venomous snakes (family Elapidae) that have short fangs fixed in the front of the upper jaw. Elapids are found in the New World, Africa, southern Asia, Pacific Islands, and Australia. Slender and agile, most are small and harmless to humans, but they include the largest and most lethal of snakes. Their venom is primarily neurotoxic but often contains substances that damage body tissues or blood cells. The relatively painless bite may cause a swift death from paralysis of the heart and lungs. See also black snake, cobra, coral snake, mamba.

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WordNet: elapid
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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: any of numerous venomous fanged snakes of warmer parts of both hemispheres
  Synonym: elapid snake


 
 
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Cobras, Kraits, Seasnakes, Death Adders, and Relatives (Elapidae) (zoology)

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more