| Eryx colubrinus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Boidae |
| Genus: | Eryx |
| Species: | E. colubrinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Eryx colubrinus | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Eryx colubrinus, the Egyptian or Kenyan sand boa, [3] is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to Northern and Eastern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized. [4]
The Egyptian sand boa is a heavily-built snake with a small head, small eyes, vertical pupils, and a short tail. Scale texture is extremely smooth, except on the tail, which is covered in bumps. Adult female specimens of G. colubrinus are rarely more than 91 cm (3 feet) in total length (including tail). [3] The average Egyptian sand boa grows no longer than 12-24" (30-60cm) long, with males being significantly smaller than females.
The color pattern usually consists of a yellow or orange coloration overlaid with dark brown splotches. The belly is white- or cream-colored. It is readily available in the pet trade due to its small size, docility and ease of care. In recent years, there have been a number of new color morphs made available by both commercial and hobby breeders. Some of the more popular morphs available include anerythristic (black and white lacking orange/red simple recessive trait), albino (lacking black pigment simple recessive trait), snow (double recessive combination of an anerythristic and an albino), stripes (normal-colored, anerythristic, albino and snow), hypo/ghost, paradox albinos (simple recessive trait), paradox snows (double recessive trait), splash (recessive trait), paint (recessive trait) and stripe combinations with any of the listed recessive traits. In addition, many line bred traits have been accentuated on the above morphs, such as Nuclears (extreme red), High Whites and Reduced Patterns, for example.
Common names for E. colubrinus include East African sand boa, Egyptian sand boa, Kenyan sand boa, and sand boa.
Eryx colubrinus is found in North Africa from Egypt as far west as Niger (Aïr), including Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, and northern Tanzania. A single specimen has been reported from Yemen. The type locality given is "Ægypto". [2]
Eryx colubrinus occurs in semi-desert and scrub savannahs and rock outcroppings. It prefers sandy, friable soil. [3]
Eryx colubrinus is most active at night, but may be irregularly active during the day. This species is fossorial and spends most of its time underground. During the hotter times of the year, E. colubrinus seeks refuge beneath stones and in the burrows of small mammals. [3] However, they have also been known to occasionally climb trees.
Eryx colubrinus feeds on small mammals (such as rodents), lizards and birds that are quickly seized when passing within striking range and killed by constriction. [3] [5] Occasionally, they have been known to hunt out the nests of small mammals and birds. [6]
Eryx colubrinus is ovoviviparous. [7] In captivity, it breeds readily November through April in the United States, delivering live birth averaging 10-20 babies born spring through late summer. [8] The young at birth typically are 20–25 cm (8-10 inches) in length. [3]
A synonym for this species, Eryx colubrinus, is Anguis colubrina, given by Linnaeus. [9]
Stimson (1969) recognized two subspecies: Eryx colubrinus colubrinusLinnaeus and E. c. loveridgei Stull , [10] but mentioned that a number of other authors, including Ahl (1933), Loveridge (1936), Scortecci (1939), and Parker (1949), questioned whether E. c. loveridgei was valid and considered the species to be monotypic with geographic variation. [2]
When recognized, Eryx colubrinus loveridgei is said to occur in the southern part of the range [3] and is described as being more orange in color.
A third subspecies, Eryx colubrinus rufescens, is smaller and more rounded than E. c. loveridgei, with rougher scales.
Shi et al (2023) proposed that E. colubrinus was the sister species to the Miocene fossil species E. linxiaensis from Gansu, China. This suggests repeat dispersal events of the genus from Africa to Eurasia during the Miocene. [11]
The subspecific name loveridgei is in honor of British herpetologist Arthur Loveridge. [12]
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.
The Calabar python is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to West and Central Africa. It is the only species in its genus.
Eryx johnii is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is endemic to Iran, Pakistan, and India. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid.
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.
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.
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.
The Erycinae, also known as the Old World sand boas, 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.
The Boinae are a purported subfamily of boas found in Central and South America, as well as the West Indies. In the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), Boinae is considered an invalid synonym of Boidae.
Eryx elegans is a boa species endemic to western Central Asia. Like all other boas, it is not venomous. No subspecies are recognized.
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 boa species endemic to Melanesia and Polynesia. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here. Like all other boas, it is not venomous.
Olive Griffith Stull (Davis) (February 10, 1905 – June 15, 1969) was an American herpetologist, best known for her work on snakes.
Epicrates maurus is a species of non-venomous constrictor in the family Boidae, commonly found in the Amazon region of South America. The common name for this species is the brown rainbow boa. This species is semi-arboreal, spending time both on the ground and climbing trees and shrubs, although they are also known to swim. They are nocturnal and primarily active in the middle of the night. Rainbow boas are known for their attractive iridescent sheen on their scales in the sunlight.
Chilabothrus fordii, also known commonly as Ford's boa and the Haitian ground boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. There are three recognized subspecies.
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.
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.
Eryx miliaris, known as the dwarf sand boa, desert sand boa, or Tartar sand boa, is a species of snake in the Boidae family. The species is endemic to Asia.
Eryx somalicus, known commonly as the Somali sand boa, is a species of small snake in the Boidae family. As its scientific name and common name suggest, it is found in Somalia, but may also be present in eastern Ethiopia.
Eryx muelleri, known commonly as Müller's sand boa or the Saharan sand boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to Africa. They are kept fairly regularly in the pet industry due to their docile nature and easy care.
In the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, Carl Linnaeus described the Amphibia as:
Animals that are distinguished by a body cold and generally naked; stern and expressive countenance; harsh voice; mostly lurid color; filthy odor; a few are furnished with a horrid poison; all have cartilaginous bones, slow circulation, exquisite sight and hearing, large pulmonary vessels, lobate liver, oblong thick stomach, and cystic, hepatic, and pancreatic ducts: they are deficient in diaphragm, do not transpire (sweat), can live a long time without food, are tenatious of life, and have the power of reproducing parts which have been destroyed or lost; some undergo a metamorphosis; some cast (shed) their skin; some appear to live promiscuously on land or in the water, and some are torpid during the winter.
