Red sand boa (Eryx johnii)

 

NON VENOMOUS

Red Sand Boa

(Eryx johnii)

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is a short, stout-bodied snake.

• Average length :

  2–3 feet

• Maximum recorded :

  ~4 feet

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) feeds on rodents, small mammals, lizards, birds and occasionally other snakes.

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is nocturnal, fossorial and slow moving. It prefers to stay buried under loose soil or sand.

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) prefers semi-deserts, scrublands, dry grasslands and sandy agricultural fields.

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is found mainly in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is completely non-venomous and harmless to humans.

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is viviparous and gives birth to live young.

• Viviparous :

  Gives birth to live young

• Litter size :

  6–20 young

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is classified as Near Threatened due to illegal trade and habitat loss.

Local names

• Hindi :

  मांडोल, दोमुंहा सांप

• Gujarati :

  માંડોળ

• Marathi :

  मांडोल

• Kannada :

  ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಹಾವು

• Tamil :

  மண்பாம்பு

• Telugu :

  మట్టి పాము

• Bengali :

  দুমুখো সাপ

Interesting Fact

Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is surrounded by myths and superstitions, which has led to illegal wildlife trade. In reality, it is harmless and plays an important role in controlling rodent populations.

References

• wikipedia
• S.R.O.