Erycinae

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iErycinae
Rough-scaled Sand Boa, Gonglyophis conicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Boidae Subfamily: Erycinae Bonaparte, 1831

Erycinae is a subfamily of the family Boidae which includes Rubber Boas, Sand Boas, Rosy Boas, and depending on the source, the Calabaria. They are found throughout the warmer climes of the world, in arid and semi-arid habitats.

Compared to true boas, erycines are quite small, with most members of the subfamily remaining well under a metre in length. Fossil erycines have been found in rock strata over 50 million years old, and were once widespread in North America. Now, only two species remain in North America, as well as the sand boas in Africa, Asia and southeastern Europe.

[edit] Genera

• Calabaria, the Calabar Python.
• Charina, Rosy Boas and Rosy Boas.
• Eryx, Middle Eastern and Asian Sand Boas.
• Gongylophis, African Sand Boas.

At least three erycine species lay eggs: the Calabar Burrowing "Python", (Calabaria reinhardtii), it was once classified as a python for this reason; the Arabian Sand Boa, (Eryx jayakari); and the West African Sand Boa, (Eryx muelleri).