John's sand boa, Erutaley nagam, Mannoli pambu, Red sand boa, Brown sand boa, Eryx johnii
The Indian sand boa (Eryx johnii) is a nonvenomous snake native to Western and South Asia. This species is also known as John's sand boa, erutaley nagam, mannoli pambu, Red sand boa, and Brown sand boa.
Adapted to burrowing, the head of this snake 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.
Indian sand boas are found from Iran through Pakistan into western, southern, and northwestern India. They live in dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills.
Indian sand boas are solitary and live underground. They spend much of their time basking below the surface of the sand, with only their eyes or head exposed waiting on potential prey. When a catch approaches, sand boas erupt out of the sand, bite, and employ constriction to subdue an animal.
Indian sand boas are carnivores. They feed mainly on mammals such as rats, mice, and other small rodents. Some specimens have apparently fed exclusively on other snakes.
Indian sand boas are ovoviviparous, meaning that the females give birth to up to 14 young at a time.
Indian sand boas have many superstitious beliefs attributed to them because of their double-headed appearance, such as bringing good luck, curing AIDS, etc. Such blind faith has resulted in endangering these snakes, and in illegal trade in India.
The Indian sand boa lizard population number is unavailable at present from open sources and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
