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Ophidia

(Science: zoology) The order of reptiles which includes the serpents.

The most important divisions are: the solenoglypha, having erectile perforated fangs, as the rattlesnake; the proteroglypha, or elapine serpents, having permanently erect fang, as the cobra; the Asinea, or colubrine serpents, which are destitute of fangs; and the Opoterodonta, or Epanodonta, blindworms, in which the mouth is not dilatable.

Origin: NL, fr. Gr, dim. Of a snake.