Eryx johnii

Eryx johnii
Eryx johnii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Subfamily: Erycinae
Genus: Eryx
Species: E. johnii
Binomial name
Eryx johnii
(Russell, 1801)
Synonyms
  • Boa Johnii - Russell, 1801
  • [Boa] Anguiformis - Schneider, 1801
  • Clothonia anguiformis - Daudin, 1803
  • [Tortrix] eryx indicus - Schlegel, 1837
  • Clothonia Johnii - Gray, 1842
  • Eryx Johnii — A.M.C Duméril & Bibron, 1844
  • Eryx maculatus - Hallowell, 1849
  • Eryx johnii - Boulenger, 1890
  • Eryx jaculus var. johnii - Ingoldby, 1923
  • Eryx johnii johnii - Stull, 1935
  • [Eryx] johnii - Kluge, 1993[1]
Common names: Indian sand boa,[2] red sand boa, brown sand boa.

Eryx johnii is a non-venomous boa species found in Iran, Pakistan and India. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Contents

Description

E. johnii

Adults rarely exceed two feet in length (61 cm), although they sometimes reach 3 feet (91 cm). Adapted to burrowing, the head is wedge-shaped with narrow nostrils and very small eyes. The body is cylindrical in shape with small polished scales. The tail, which is blunt, rounded and not distinct from the body, appears truncated. Coloration varies from reddish-brown to dull yellow-tan.[2]

Geographic range

Found from Iran through Pakistan into western, southern and northeastern India. The type locality given is "Tranquebar" (Tanjore, trichy district, southeastern Madras, India).[1]

Habitat

Occurs in dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills. Prefers loose sand, or sandy soil that crumbles easily.[2]

Behavior

Because of the resemblance of the tail to its head, and, its habit, when alarmed, of coiling up and raising the tail as if it were the head, the Red Sand Boa is called Do-muha (meaning two-headed) in Hindi in Rajasthan, India.

Feeding

The diet consists mainly of mammals such as rats, mice and other small rodents that are killed by constriction. Some specimens have apparently fed exclusively on other snakes.[4]

Reproduction

Ovoviviparous, with females giving birth to up to 14 young at a time.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ^ a b c Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  3. ^ "Eryx johnii". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634808. Retrieved 8 July 2008. 
  4. ^ Sights, Warren P. (1949). "Annotated list of reptiles taken in western Bengal". Herpetologica 5 (4): 81–83. 

Further reading

  • Hallowell E. 1848. Description of a species of Eryx from Madras. Proc. Acad. nat. Sci., Philadelphia, 1848: 184.
  • Russell P. 1801. A continuation of an account of Indian serpents: containing descriptions and figures from specimens and drawings, transmitted from various parts of India to the hon. Court of Directors of the East Indian Company. Volume 2. London, W. Bulmer and Co., 53 pp.
  • Daniels JC. 2002. Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. USA: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-566099-4. pp. 252.

External links


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