| Eryx jaculus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Boidae |
| Genus: | Eryx |
| Species: | E. jaculus |
| Binomial name | |
| Eryx jaculus | |
| Synonyms | |
Eryx jaculus, known commonly as the javelin sand boa, is a species of snake in the Boidae family. [3] [4] It is the type species of the genus Eryx .
The Javelin Sand Boa, or the Eryx Jaculus is a snake mainly found in Egypt and the middle east. Eryx Jaculus was also known as the new/old world snake. Scientists from Razi university write, “brownish-green or gray, with darker blotches, belly white or yellowish, uniform or speckled darker” (Rhadi,Pouyani et al)
Eryx jaculus is found in Eastern Europe and Balkans, [5] [6] the Caucasus, the Middle East, and North-Africa. In September 2014 the snake was rediscovered in Romania near the Danube after being extinct in the nation since 1937, when the last specimen was seen near Cochirleni. [7] In late 2015 the snake was rediscovered near Licata on the south coast of Sicily after not having been officially recorded in Italy for eighty years. The snake has a wide range of where it is located. It is mainly found in the middle east and southern Europe. But the snake has also been found in other regions such as India and Sri Lanka, which are countries in south asia. Mainly found in Iraq though. It could also be found in mongolia. Local inhabitants have been calling the boa “batra” which is translated to father. They have the small diet as other snakes such as pythons and rattlesnakes. They feed on lizards, small mammals and other snakes by being a primitive snake. Some countries the snake has been found in are; Algeria, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Asia Minor, the Levant, Iraq and Persia. It is said to also be found on the coast of the black sea but it all leads back to the middle east of where the snake is from.
The javelin sand boa may grow to 80 cm (31+1⁄2 in) in total length (including tail). Coloring varies greatly. Dorsally, it may be grayish, tan, brownish, or reddish, with darker blotches or bars in an irregular network. It usually has a dark streak from the eye to the corner of the mouth. Ventrally it is whitish or yellowish. It is heavy-bodied and has a short blunt tail. The ventrals are very narrow, less than ⅓ of the width of the body. [8] The rostral is large and broad with an angular horizontal edge. The eye is separated from the labials by one or two rows of small scales. There are 10-14 upper labials. The dorsal scales are in 40-50 rows, smooth anteriorly, but weakly keeled posteriorly. There are 165-200 ventrals, and 15-34 subcaudals. [9] They are relatively built simple with small scales just like other snakes in their family. The snake has been very unstudied. In May and September of 2014 scientists in Iraq with the help of locals were locating the snake. Schleich and Szyndlar write, “We want to know more about these snakes to find out about their past distribution of these snakes in the west” (Schleich, Szyndlar 234). All snakes under the Eryx Genus have the same 3 scales pointed in different directions just like a star. You can identify it by its small eyes and neck. The whole head is covered with small scales. A very good description comes from the scientist at the university in Iran, “A green brown, or gray snake dorsally with darker blotches, and with a spotted yellowish or white belly; no neck, a stumpy tail, small plates on the head, a vertical pupil, posterior dorsals slightly keeled, ventrals narrow” (Rhadi,Pouyani et al).
Some records of the Javelin have dated back to the roman age where people said that the ancient romans have used snakes to fight in wars. Schleich and Szyndlar tell us “The oldest unquestionable records of this genus are somewhat younger: they come from the end of the lower Miocene (MN 4) of Al-Sarrah in Saudi Arabia (''Eryx-Gongylophis group": Rage, 1982) and of Córcoles in central Spain (Alférez and Brea, 1981)” (Schleich and Szyndlar 235). In 1989, Fossils of the snake were found in ukraine which was a great discovery for the scientists because they assumed there was another snake to the Eryx family. What is interesting about the snake is that they originated from Egypt. But in the past they were mostly found in Cold War Russia and Ukraine.
The javelin sand boa was one of a number species of snake used by ancient Greeks as projectiles during naval battles in order to cause fear and confusion on enemy vessels. Its habitat spread from its original location to the areas conquered and settled by the Greeks. [10]
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.
Spalerosophis diadema, known commonly as the Blotched diadem snake and the Blotched royal snake, is a species of large snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia and northern Africa.
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.
Eryx elegans is a boa species endemic to western Central Asia. Like all other boas, it is not venomous. No subspecies are recognized.
The Cuban boa, also known as the Cuban tree boa and by locals as majá de Santa María, is a very large species of snake in the family Boidae. With lengths exceeding 5 m (16 ft) and a relatively heavy build, the Cuban boa is one of the largest snakes in the world. The species is native to Cuba and some nearby islands. No subspecies are currently recognized.
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.
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 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.
Simalia tracyae, the Halmahera python, is a species of python found only on the Indonesian island of Halmahera. It belongs to the family Pythonidae and the genus Simalia. This snake was previously believed to have belonged to the Simalia amesthistina species; however, studies in recent years have caused scientists to distinguish between the two types of snakes, resulting in the reclassification of the Halmahera python as its own species.
The Booidea, also known as booid snakes, are a superfamily of snakes that contains boas and other closely related boa-like snakes. As of 2017, Booidea contains 61 species, including the eponymous neotropical Boa constrictor, anacondas, and smaller tree and rainbow boas as well as several genera of booid snakes from various locations around the world: bevel-nosed boas or keel-scaled boas (Candoia) from New Guinea and Melanesia, Old World sand boas (Eryx) from Northeast Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia, rubber boas (Charina) and rosy boas (Lichanura) from North America, neotropical dwarf boas (Ungaliophis) and the Oaxacan dwarf boa (Exiliboa) from Central America, Madagascan boas or Malagasy boas from Madagascar, and the Calabar python (Calabaria) from tropical West-Central Africa.
Chilabothrus schwartzi, also known as the Crooked-Acklins boa or Crooked Aklins boa, is a species of snake. It is endemic to the southern Bahamas, specifically to Crooked Island and Acklins. It was originally described as a subspecies of Epicrates chrysogaster, but it was elevated to full species status in 2018. In fact, molecular data suggest a closer relationship with Chilabothrus argentum than with Chilabothrus chrysogaster.
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