Colubrids: Colubridae

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists one species as Extinct, meaning that none is still alive. Six species are Critically Endangered, meaning that they face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, and seven are Endangered, meaning that they face a very high risk of extinction. Eight are considered Vulnerable, meaning that their risk of extinction is high, and four are Near Threatened, meaning that they may face the risk of becoming threatened with extinction in the near future. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists seven U.S. species and one foreign colubrid as Threatened.

The danger to most colubrid populations comes from the destruction of their habitat, or their preferred living areas, and their collection for the pet trade, food, or leather. While many species are finding it hard to survive, the brown tree snake is doing very well. This slender snake grows to 4.5 to 6.5 feet (1.4 to 2 meters) in length. It is native to Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, and the Solomon Islands, but it seems to have hitched a ride on military ships during World War II to the Pacific island of Guam. Once there, it quickly adapted to its new home and has since hunted and eaten to extinction several species of the island's native birds and lizards.