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 | |
|
Eryx johnii is a non-venomous boa species found in Iran, Pakistan and India. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]
Contents |
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]
Found from Iran through Pakistan into western, southern and northeastern India. The type locality given is "Tranquebar" (Tanjore, trichy district, southeastern Madras, India).[1]
Occurs in dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills. Prefers loose sand, or sandy soil that crumbles easily.[2]
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.
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]
Ovoviviparous, with females giving birth to up to 14 young at a time.