Wildlifeof Nepal
Eryx johnii
Pythons
Photo: (c) Chayant Gonsalves, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Eryx johnii
Basic stats
Diet
Mainly rats, mice and other small rodents, killed by constriction
Habitat
Dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills up to 200m; burrows in loose sand
Range
Iran, Pakistan and India (account opened); not listed for Nepal
Litter size
Up to 14 young
Size
Rarely over 61cm; sometimes up to 91cm
The Indian sand boa, or red sand boa, is a non-venomous snake of the boa family. It has a cylindrical body with small polished scales and a blunt, rounded tail that looks truncated. Colour varies from reddish brown to dull yellow-tan. Adults rarely exceed 61cm in total length, though some reach 91cm. It is adapted to burrowing, with a wedge-shaped head, narrow nostrils and very small eyes (Wikipedia, general species account).
It prefers loose sand or crumbling sandy soil, where it lives underground, in dry semi-desert scrub and rocky foothills up to 200m. It feeds mainly on small rodents, killed by constriction, and females give birth to up to 14 young in late summer or the monsoon. The accounts opened list Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and India but not Nepal, so the Nepal record is flagged.
Quick answers
- What does the Eryx johnii eat?
- Mainly rats, mice and other small rodents, killed by constriction
- What habitat does the Eryx johnii live in?
- Dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills up to 200m; burrows in loose sand
- Where is the Eryx johnii found?
- Iran, Pakistan and India (account opened); not listed for Nepal
- What is the litter size of the Eryx johnii?
- Up to 14 young
- How big is the Eryx johnii?
- Rarely over 61cm; sometimes up to 91cm