Gongylophis conicus

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Rough-tailed Sand Boa

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Boidae
Genus:	Gongylophis
Species:	G. conicus

Binomial name

Gongylophis conicus
Schneider, 1801

Synonyms

Eryx conicus

Rough-tailed Sand Boa or Rough Scaled Sand Boa (Gongylophis conicus) is a short, stout bodied species of snake found in Pakistan, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. They were once classified in the genus Eryx, but have since been moved to the genus Gonglyophis. In the Indian region they can be mistaken at first glance for either the Indian Python or the deadly Russell's Viper.

[edit] Description

Description from Boulenger's, Fauna of British India

Rostrals about twice as broad as deep, feebly prominent, not keeled; only the nasals and internasals enlarged, the rest of the head covered with small obtusely keeled scales; 8 to 10 scales from eye to eye across the forehead; 10 to 15 scales round the eye, which is separated from the labials by on or two rows of scales; 12 to 14 upper labials. Scales tubercularly keeled; the keels very strong on the tail, in 40 to 47 rows. Ventrals 168-176; anal entire; subcaudals 17-24. Tail tapering to a point. Yellowish or brownish grey with a broad zigzag band or series of dark brown black-edged spots along the back; lower parts uniform white.

A general description of the Eryx genus is as follows

Anterior maxillary and mandibulary teeth a little longer than the posterior. Head covered with small scales; a mental groove, Eye very small, with vertical pupil. Scales very small, smooth or keeled. Tail very short, not or but very slightly prehensile; sub-caudals simple.

Rostrals large and broad with angular horizontal edge; two pairs of small shields behind the rostral; six to nine sclaes from eye to eye across the forehead; ten or eleven scales round the eye, which is separated from the labials by one or two rows of scales; 10 to 12 upper labials. Scales slightly keeled, in 51 to 65 rows. Ventrals 194-210; anal single; subcaudals 26-36. Tail very blunt, rounded at the end. Sandy grey, reddish, or pale brown above, uniform or with more or less distinct blackish transverse bands, these bands are usually distinct on the tail; belly brown, or spotted with blackish; young often pale coral-red. Total length 3 feet 3 inches; tail 3 inches.

Habitat: Sandy tracts of central and southern India, the Punjab, Kutch and Sind.

Nocturnal; feeding on worms and small mammals.

[edit] References

Boulenger, G. A. 1890 Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia.
Jones, C. 2004 Sandboas. Reptilia 9 (3): 20-30
Tokar A A. 1995 Taxonomic revision of the genus Gongylophis Wagler 1830: G. conicus (Schneider 1801) and G. muelleri Boulenger 1892 (Serpentes Boidae). TROPICAL ZOOLOGY 8 (2): 347-360.
Whitaker, Romulus and Ashok Captain 2004 Snakes of India. Draco Books, 500 pp.