Eryx johnii

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Eryx johnii
Eryx johniii.jpg
Eryx johnii at Satara, Maharashtra, India
Eryx johnii (juvenile) at Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India Juvenile Red Sand Boa at Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.jpg
Eryx johnii (juvenile) at Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India
Eryx johnii (juvenile) at Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India The Juvenile Red Sand Boa.jpg
Eryx johnii (juvenile) at Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India
Dorsal view of juvenile Eryx johnii Dorsal view of the Juvenile Eryx johnii.jpg
Dorsal view of juvenile Eryx johnii
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Eryx
Species:
E. johnii
Binomial name
Eryx johnii
(Russell, 1801)
Synonyms [2]

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. [3] Common names include: Indian sand boa, [4] John's sand boa, [5] iruthalai nagam, [6] mannuli pambu, [7] red sand boa, [7] and brown sand boa. [8]

Contents

Etymology

The specific name, johnii, is in honor of German naturalist Christoph Samuel John (1747–1813), who was a missionary in India from 1771 until his death. [5]

Description

Eryx johnii, closeup of head AB131-Eryx johnii head.JPG
Eryx johnii, closeup of head

Adults of E. johnii rarely exceed 2 feet (61 cm) in total length (including tail), 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 dorsal scales. The tail, which is blunt, rounded, and not distinct from the body, appears truncated. Coloration varies from reddish brown to dull yellow-tan.[ citation needed ]

Geographic range

E. johnii is found from Iran through Pakistan into western, southern, and northwestern India. The type locality given is "Tranquebar" (Tanjore, Trichy, southeastern Tamil Nadu, India). [2] It is found in Indian desert. In western India, specifically in the state of Maharashtra, it is known as a Mandul snake (Marathi: मांडूळ साप).[ citation needed ]

Habitat

E. johnii is found in dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills up to 200 m (660 ft) elevation. It prefers loose sand, or sandy soil that crumbles easily, into which it burrows, living underground. [1]

Diet

The diet of E. johnii 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. [9]

Behavior

E. johnii is a very calm snake species.[ citation needed ]

Reproduction

E. johnii is ovoviviparous, [8] with females giving birth to up to 14 young at a time in late summer to monsoon. [1]

Illegal trade

E. johnii has many superstitious beliefs attributed to it because of its double-headed appearance, such as bringing good luck, curing AIDS, etc. Such blind faith has resulted in endangering the species, and in illegal trade in India, despite being a protected species under Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, of India. [7] It is also banned in India as pets.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Anderson, S.; Papenfuss, T.; Srinivasulu, C.; Kulkarni, N.U.; Mohapatra, P.; Milto, K.; Bhattarai, S.; Vyas, R.; Ganesh, S.R.; Thakur, S. (2021). "Eryx johnii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T164733A1071806. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T164733A1071806.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. "Eryx johnii ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  4. Mehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN   0-8069-6460-X.
  5. 1 2 Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Eryx johnii, p. 135).
  6. Russell (1801).
  7. 1 2 3 "Illegal trade flourishes in red sand boas - Times of India". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  8. 1 2 Species Eryx johnii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  9. Sights, Warren P. (1949). "Annotated List of Reptiles taken in Western Bengal". Herpetologica. 5 (4): 81–83.

Further reading