Erycinae
Encyclopedia
- Common names: Old World sand boas.
The Erycinae are part of a family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of non-venomous snakes called boas found in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, and western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Three genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
comprising 15 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are currently recognized.
Description
A group of stout-bodied snakes, all of which are competent burrowers. The largest, E. johniiEryx johnii
Eryx johnii is a non-venomous boa species found in Iran, Pakistan and India. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:Adults rarely exceed two feet in length , although they sometimes reach 3 feet . Adapted to burrowing, the head is wedge-shaped with narrow nostrils and very small eyes...
rarely exceeds 120 cm. Most grow to around 60 cm in length. They have small eyes and hard, small scales to protect their skin from the grit of sand. There is a great deal of sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
, females generally becoming much larger than males.
Geographic range
Found in south and southeastern EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, north, central, west and east Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Also in southwestern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and northwestern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Fossil erycines have been found in rock strata over 50 million years old, and were once widespread in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Now, only two species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
remain in North America, as well as the sand boas in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and southeastern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Behavior
The majority of these snakes spend much of their time basking below the surface of the sand, with only their eyes or head exposed on the surface. When a potential prey item approaches, they erupt out of the sand, bite and employ constrictionConstriction
Constriction is a method used by various snake species to kill their prey. Although some species of venomous and mildly-venomous snakes do use constriction to subdue their prey, most snakes which use constriction lack venom. The snake initially strikes at its prey and holds on, pulling the prey...
to subdue it.
Feeding
Their primary diet consists of rodents, but they have also been known to prey on lizards and birds.Reproduction
Otherwise far removed from their boineBoinae
The Boinae are a subfamily of boas found in Central and South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Five genera comprising 28 species are currently recognized.-Geographic range:...
cousins, one thing they do have in common is that they are generally ovoviviparous
Ovoviviparity
Ovoviviparity, ovovivipary, or ovivipary, is a mode of reproduction in animals in which embryos develop inside eggs that are retained within the mother's body until they are ready to hatch...
, i.e., giving birth to live young. Still, at least three species lay eggs: the Calabar Python, Charina reinhardtii (once regarded as a python for this reason), the Arabian Sand Boa, Eryx jayakari
Eryx jayakari
Eryx jayakari, known commonly as the Saudi Arabian sand boa, is a species of snake in the Boidae family. It is found in the Arabian Peninsula and Iran....
, and the West African Sand Boa, E. muelleri.
Smuggling and Poaching in India
Indian Government has failed to protect rare species of Sand Boa in India. Poaching and smuggling of this amazing creature is at very alarming state. It is very sad the most of the smuggled snakes go to USA , because sand boa babies are considered very attractive in the country. Each rare species sand boa is sold for a whooping four to five million us dollars and poor locals of India are highly prone to sell them to bigger rackets for a very low price. Recently Few authorities have busted few smugglers, but it is evident that there is a very bigg racket operating in India.The Patiala Wildlife Department today (16th Nov. 2011) busted a gang involved in the trade of rare species of the Indian sand boa with the arrest of two persons. The two were allegedly trying to smuggle a pair of snakes of this rare species to Ludhiana for a whopping Rs 19 lakh.
On a tipoff, the police intercepted a car carrying a sealed bag. When opened, it was found containing a pair of the Indian sand boa.
“We immediately informed Wildlife officials who rushed to the spot and took away the snakes,” the police said.
Ashwani Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Patiala, said the “rare snakes fetch a high price. There is a misconception about their medicinal and aphrodisiacal properties as well as the belief that keeping this snake as a pet brings wealth and prosperity.” In recent times, the trade of the sand boas has increased not just in South India but also in the North.
Jugraj Singh, Range Forest Officer, Patiala, said the arrested persons had been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a local court . The court had further ordered that the snakes be sent to the Chattbir Zoo.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111117/punjab.htm#19
Captivity
Gongylophis colubrinusGongylophis colubrinus
Gongylophis colubrinus, the Kenyan sand boa, is a boa species found in northern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:...
, G. conicus
Gongylophis conicus
Gongylophis conicus is a non-venomous boa species found in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. No subspecies are currently recognized. -Description:...
and E. johnii
Eryx johnii
Eryx johnii is a non-venomous boa species found in Iran, Pakistan and India. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:Adults rarely exceed two feet in length , although they sometimes reach 3 feet . Adapted to burrowing, the head is wedge-shaped with narrow nostrils and very small eyes...
are frequently available in the exotic pet trade and are often captive bred
Captive breeding
Captive breedingis the process of breeding animals in human controlled environments with restricted settings, such as wildlife reserves, zoos and other conservation facilities; sometimes the process is construed to include release of individual organisms to the wild, when there is sufficient...
. They breed readily, their small size making them an attractive option. On the down side, they sometimes have a tendency to be a little nippy while spending the vast majority of their time hiding, so some keepers may not find them as enjoyable as the more gregarious species. They are usually not an aggressive species of snake, though. Other species are not commonly available, but are occasionally imported, not usually captive bred.
Genera
| Genus | Taxon author | Species | Subsp.* | Common name | Geographic range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charina Charina Charina is a genus of nonvenomous boas found in North America and Africa. Four species are currently recognized.-Geographic range:Found in North America from southwestern Canada south through the western United States into northwestern Mexico... |
Gray John Edward Gray John Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray .... , 1849 |
4 | 2 | Rosy boas, rubber boas | North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... from southwestern Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... south through the western United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... into northwestern Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... . Also found in west and central Africa Africa Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area... from Liberia Liberia Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open... and Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4... to Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the... (including Bioko Island Bioko Bioko is an island 32 km off the west coast of Africa, specifically Cameroon, in the Gulf of Guinea. It is the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea with a population of 124,000 and an area of . It is volcanic with its highest peak the Pico Basile at .-Geography:Bioko has a total area of... ), the Central African Republic Central African Republic The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,... , Gabon Gabon Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west... , the Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by... and the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world... . In the DRC, it is found almost as far east as Lake Kivu Lake Kivu Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika... . |
| Eryx Eryx (genus) Eryx is a genus of nonvenomous boas found in southeastern Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East and southwestern Asia. Eight species are currently recognized.-Geographic range:... T |
Daudin François Marie Daudin François Marie Daudin was a French zoologist.With legs paralyzed by childhood disease, he studied of physics and natural history, but ended up being devoted to the latter.Daudin wrote in 1799–1800... , 1803 |
8 | 2 | Old world sand boas | Southeastern Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... , northern Africa Africa Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area... , the Middle East Middle East The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East... and southwestern Asia Asia Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population... . |
| Gongylophis Gongylophis Gongylophis is a genus of non-venomous boas found in mostly in Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Currently, 3 species are recognized.-Geographic range:... |
Wagler Johann Georg Wagler Johann Georg Wagler was a German herpetologist.Wagler was assistant to Johann Baptist von Spix, and became Director of the Zoological Museum at the University of Munich after Spix's death in 1826... , 1830 |
3 | 0 | Sand boas | Africa from Mauritania Mauritania Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest... and Senegal Senegal Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north... east to Egypt Egypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... and south to Tanzania Tanzania The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state... . Also reported from the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2... . In the Indian subcontinent Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends... from eastern Pakistan, eastern India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... and Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south... south as far as northwestern Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the... . |
- Not including the nominate subspecies.
T Type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
.
Taxonomy
Some sources also include the genus Calabaria, which is synonymized here with the genus CharinaCharina
Charina is a genus of nonvenomous boas found in North America and Africa. Four species are currently recognized.-Geographic range:Found in North America from southwestern Canada south through the western United States into northwestern Mexico...
.
External links
- The Sand Boa Page at Kingsnake.com. Accessed 16 July 2008.