Eryx johnii

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Indian Sand Boa
Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii) from India.
Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii) from India.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Eryx
Species: E. johnii
Binomial name
Eryx johnii
(Russell, 1801)

The Brown Sand Boa or Indian Sand Boa Eryx johnii is a species of snake found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and western India. Because of the resemblance of the tail to its head, and, it's 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.

Both ends of Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii) from India to show the resemblance.
Both ends of Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii) from India to show the resemblance.

Identification Presence of a mental groove, a pronounced angular ridge on the muzzle, a blunt tail and costal scales over 53.

Food Mainly mammals such as rats, mice and other small rodents which are killed by constriction.

Breeding Ovoviviparous with up to fourteen young born at a time.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Hallowell, E. 1848, Description of a species of Eryx, from Madras. Proc. Acad. nat. Sci., Philadelphia, 1848: 184
  • Russell 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.
  • Daniel, J.C. The book of reptiles and amphibians. Oxford University Press.


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