Several papers addressed the systematics of snakes of Jordan (Disi, 1983,
1985, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2002; Disi et al., 1988 a and b, 1999, 2001, 2004; Al-Oran, 2000;
Al-Oran and Amr, 1995, Al-Oran et al., 1997, 1998, Amr et al., 1994, 1997; Abu
Baker et al., 2002, 2004; El-Oran,
1994; Modry et
al., 2004; Joger et al., 2005; Venchi and Sindaco, 2006; Amr, 2008; Shwayat et al., 2009).
Within the past 20 years, major changes in the systematics of the snakes
of the Middle East took place. The most comprehensive study on the snakes of
Jordan was published by Amr and Disi (2011) with updates of their taxonomic
status and distribution. At present the snake fauna of Jordan consists of 37 species
and subspecies belonging to seven families (Typhlopidae,
Leptotyphlopidae, Boidae, Colubridae, Atractaspididae, Elapidae and Viperidae). Venomous species belong to three families (Atractaspididae,
Elapidae and Viperidae) with a total of seven species on known toxicity.
