Erycinae

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Erycinae
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Eryx jaculus.jpg
Javelin sand boa ( Eryx jaculus )
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Subfamily: Erycinae
Bonaparte, 1831
Synonyms
  • Erycina
    Bonaparte, 1831
  • Erycidae
    Bonaparte, 1840
  • Erycina
    — Bonaparte, 1840
  • Erycides
    A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
  • Charinidae
    Cope, 1900
  • Erycinae
    Kuhn, 1967
  • Erycinidae
    Kuhn, 1967

The Erycinae, also known as the Old World sand boas, [1] are a subfamily of nonvenomous snakes in the family Boidae. Species of the subfamily Erycinae are found in Europe, Asia Minor, Africa, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and western North America. Four genera comprising 18 species are currently recognized as being valid. [1]

Contents

Description

Erycinae is a subfamily of stout-bodied snakes, all of which are competent burrowers. The largest, E. johnii , rarely exceeds 120 cm (47 in) in total length (including tail). Most grow to around 60 cm (24 in) in total length. They have small eyes and hard, small scales to protect their skin from the grit of sand. A great deal of sexual dimorphism exists, with females generally becoming much larger than males.

Erycines have skeletal adaptations to burrowing. The skull is more compact than in the subfamily Boinae. Also, the vertebrae of the tail are increased in size but reduced in number. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Erycines are found in Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, North, Central, West and East Africa, Arabia, Central and Southwest Asia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, southwestern Canada, the western United States, and northwestern Mexico. [3]

Fossil erycines have been found in rock strata over 50 million years old, and were once widespread in North America. Now, only four species remain in North America, as well as the Old World sand boas proper in Africa, Asia, and Southeastern Europe.

The oldest known erycines are from the Eocene-aged Messel Pit in Germany, named Rageryx schmidi . [4]

Behavior

The majority of sand boas spend much of their time basking below the surface of the sand, with only their eyes or head exposed. When potential prey approaches, they erupt out of the sand, bite, and employ constriction to subdue it.

Feeding

The erycines' primary diet is rodents, but they have also been known to prey on lizards and birds.

Reproduction

Otherwise far removed from their boine relatives, erycines are generally ovoviviparous, i.e., giving birth to live young. At least two species lay eggs, however: the Arabian sand boa, Eryx jayakari , and the West African sand boa, Eryx muelleri .

Smuggling and poaching in India

Poaching and smuggling of sand boas is often reported in India. [5] [6] [7] [8] Most of the smuggled snakes go to the United States. [9] [ better source needed ] There is a misconception about their medicinal and aphrodisiacal properties, as well as the belief that keeping this snake as a pet brings wealth and prosperity. [10]

Captivity

Eryx colubrinus , E. conicus and E. johnii are frequently available in the exotic pet trade and are often captive-bred. They breed readily, their small size making them an attractive option. They are usually not aggressive species, though they sometimes have a tendency to bite, and also spend the vast majority of their time hiding. Other species are not commonly available, but are occasionally imported.

Rough-scaled sand boa Sand Boa.jpg
Rough-scaled sand boa

Genera

Genus [1] Taxon author [1] Species [1] Subsp.* [1] Common nameGeographic range [3]
Charina Gray, 184920rubber boasNorth America from western Canada south through the western United States into northwestern Mexico
Eryx T Daudin, 1803132Old World sand boasSoutheastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Southwest Asia
Lichanura Cope, 186123rosy boasNorth America from western Canada through the southwestern United States and into northwestern Mexico

See also

Related Research Articles

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The Boidae, commonly known as boas or boids, are a family of nonvenomous snakes primarily found in the Americas, as well as Africa, Europe, Asia, and some Pacific islands. Boas include some of the world's largest snakes, with the green anaconda of South America being the heaviest and second-longest snake known; in general, adults are medium to large in size, with females usually larger than the males. Six subfamilies comprising 15 genera and 54 species are currently recognized.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calabar python</span> Species of snake

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropidophiidae</span> Family of snakes

The Tropidophiidae, common name dwarf boas or thunder snakes, are a family of nonvenomous snakes found from Mexico and the West Indies south to southeastern Brazil. These are small to medium-sized fossorial snakes, some with beautiful and striking color patterns. Currently, two living genera, containing 34 species, are recognized. Two other genera were once considered to be tropidophiids but are now known to be more closely related to the boids, and are classified in the subfamily Ungaliophiinae. There are a relatively large number of fossil snakes that have been described as tropidophiids, but which of these are more closely related to Tropidophis and Trachyboa and which are more closely related to Ungaliophis and Exiliboa is unknown.

<i>Eryx johnii</i> Species of snake

Eryx johnii is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is native to Iran, Pakistan, and India. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid.

<i>Eryx whitakeri</i> Species of snake

Eryx whitakeri, also commonly known as Whitaker's sand boa or Whitaker's boa, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is endemic to India. No subspecies are recognized.

<i>Eryx conicus</i> Species of reptile

Eryx conicus, also known as Russell's sand boa, the Common sand boa or the rough-tailed sand boa, is a species of non-venomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is native to Southern Asia. No subspecies are recognised.

<i>Candoia</i> Genus of snakes

Candoia is a genus of non-venomous boas found mostly in New Guinea, Melanesia, the Solomon Islands and the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. Common names include bevel-nosed boas and keel-scaled boas.

<i>Eryx</i> (snake) Genus of snakes

Eryx is a genus of nonvenomous snakes, commonly known as Old World sand boas, in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. Species of the genus are found in southeastern Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, and southwestern Asia. Thirteen species are recognized as being valid.

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<i>Eryx colubrinus</i> Species of snake

Eryx colubrinus, the Egyptian or Kenyan sand boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to Northern and Eastern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized.

<i>Candoia bibroni</i> Species of snake

Candoia bibroni—commonly known as Bibron's bevel-nosed boa, Bibron's keel-scaled boa, the Pacific tree boa or the Fiji boa—is a species of boa, a group of non-venomous, constricting snakes, endemic to the southern Pacific Ocean island chains of Melanesia and Polynesia. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies, described here. Candoia bibroni is one of the most isolated and far-removed species of boid snakes on earth, as the majority of boa species are found in the Americas and the Caribbean, or, in the case of the terrestrial sand boas, in Africa and Eurasia.

<i>Eryx jaculus</i> Species of snake

Eryx jaculus, known commonly as the javelin sand boa, is a species of snake in the Boidae family. It is the type species of the genus Eryx.

<i>Eryx jayakari</i> Species of snake

Eryx jayakari, known commonly as the Arabian sand boa or Jayakar's sand boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula and Iran where it spends the day buried in the sand.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Erycinae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  2. Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978).
  3. 1 2 3 McDiarmid, R.W.; Campbell, J.A., Touré, T. (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference Vol. 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  4. Smith, Krister T.; Scanferla, Agustín (2021-01-14). "A nearly complete skeleton of the oldest definitive erycine boid (Messel, Germany)". Geodiversitas. 43 (1). doi: 10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a1 . ISSN   1280-9659. S2CID   231666355.
  5. "Three held for trafficking rare snake species Three held for trafficking rare snake species". The Pioneer. India: CMYK Printech Ltd. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  6. "The Hindu : States / Tamil Nadu : Sand boa caught near Dharmapuri". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 2011-01-04.
  7. "Indore: Smugglers make crores with 'two-headed' snake". dailybhaskar. August 5, 2011.
  8. "Sarpamitra, foresters bust racket selling sand boa - Times of India". The Times of India. 10 November 2011.
  9. "Indian Sand Boa". www.kingsnake.com.
  10. "Sand boa poachers eye big bucks". The Hindu. October 13, 2009 via www.thehindu.com.

Further reading

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