Rough-scaled Sand Boa
Eryx conicus
Description 3
INTRODUCTION
- Non-Venomous
- Other names : Common Sand Boa, Russell's Boa
IDENTIFICATION
- Stout, thick body with small highly keeled scales.
- Yellowish-brown with irregular reddish-brown blotches running across body.
- Small head with small scales, vertical pupils and a square snout.
- Also called the rough-tailed boa, have a thick, short & very rough tail.
- Sometimes mistaken for russell's vipers due to their color pattern across body.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
- Widespread throughout peninsular India. Not found northeast of Bengal.
- Inhabit dry, sandy areas, scrub jungles and rocky terrain of central & southern India.
- Hide in Mammal burrows, deep cracks, brick piles and loose soil.
DIET AND BEHAVIOR
- Feeds on Rodents, geckos and small birds.
- Usually wait for prey to pass staying hidden. Constricts prey to kill.
- Nocturnal and burrowing. Sometimes seen foraging during day.
- Non-offensive and tries to escape. Very slow movers and sluggish.
- When threatened, coils up to strike and lunges upwards to bite. Bites can be painful.
Other Boas 3
Whitaker's Sand Boa (Eryx whitakeri)
- Endemic to coastal regions of the Western Ghats.
- Looks like the common sand boa but has much smoother scales.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Mayuresh Kulkarni, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mayuresh Kulkarni
- (c) Vinay Gogula, all rights reserved, uploaded by Vinay Gogula
- (c) Vinay Gogula, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
iNat Map
| Found | Common |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | Non-Venomous |
