[1] The largest family is Colubridae, but it also includes at least seven other families,[1] at least four of which were once classified as "Colubridae" before molecular phylogenetics helped us understand their relationships.

[1] Although the Caenophidia previously was held to exclude Acrochordidae, researchers have recognized that acrochordids share several traits with the other caenophidians.

[2] Hence Caenophidia is usually considered to comprise Acrochordidae plus [clarification needed] the more derived snakes classified as Colubroidea.

Recent molecular studies have also found the families Xenophidiidae and Bolyeriidae to be closely related to caenophidians, forming the sister group to Caenophidia rather than being part of Henophidia.

[3][4] Below is a phylogeny of the Caenophidia based on analyses from several studies:[5][3][4] Xenophidiidae Bolyeriidae †Anomalophiidae †Russellophiidae †Nigerophiidae Acrochordidae †Archaeophinae †Palaeophiinae Xenodermidae Pareinae Xylophiinae Viperinae Azemiopinae Crotalinae Homalopsidae Prosymnidae Buhoma Pseudaspidinae Psammophiinae Pseudoxyrhophiinae Micrelapiinae Psammodynastiinae Lamprophiinae Calliophiinae Micrurinae Najinae Bungarinae Elapsoidea Hydrophiinae Cyclocorinae Atractaspidinae Grayiinae Calamariinae Ahaetuliinae Colubrinae Sibynophiidae Natricidae Pseudoxenodontidae Carphophiinae Xenodontinae Dipsadinae This Alethinophidia article is a stub.