Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference Vol.
Other species are not commonly available, but are occasionally imported. They are usually not aggressive species, though they sometimes have a tendency to bite, and also spend the vast majority of their time hiding. They breed readily, their small size making them an attractive option. johnii are frequently available in the exotic pet trade and are often captive-bred. 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. Most of the smuggled snakes go to the United States.
Poaching and smuggling of sand boas is often reported in India. At least three species lay eggs, however: the Calabar python, Calabaria reinhardtii (once regarded as a python for this reason), the Arabian sand boa, Eryx jayakari, and the West African sand boa, E. Otherwise far removed from their boine relatives, erycines are generally ovoviviparous, i.e., giving birth to live young. The erycines' primary diet is rodents, but they have also been known to prey on lizards and birds. When potential prey approaches, they erupt out of the sand, bite, and employ constriction to subdue it. The majority of sand boas spend much of their time basking below the surface of the sand, with only their eyes or head exposed. The oldest known erycines are from the Eocene-aged Messel Pit in Germany. Now, only four species remain in North America, as well as the Old World sand boas proper in Africa, Asia, and Southeastern Europe. įossil erycines have been found in rock strata over 50 million years old, and were once widespread in North America. Distribution and habitat Įrycines are found in Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, North, Central, West and East Africa, Arabia, Central and Southwest Asia, India, Sri Lanka, southwestern Canada, the western United States, and northwestern Mexico. Also, the vertebrae of the tail are increased in size but reduced in number. The skull is more compact than in the subfamily Boinae. A great deal of sexual dimorphism exists, with females generally becoming much larger than males.Įrycines have skeletal adaptations to burrowing.
Red boa snake skin#
They have small eyes and hard, small scales to protect their skin from the grit of sand. Most grow to around 60 cm (24 in) in total length. johnii, rarely exceeds 120 cm (47 in) in total length (including tail). Description Įrycinae is a subfamily of stout-bodied snakes, all of which are competent burrowers. Four genera comprising 18 species are currently recognized as being valid. Species of the subfamily Erycinae are found in Europe, Asia Minor, Africa, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and western North America. Gestation lasts for up to 150 days, during which time the female does not consume any food.īoa constrictors have poor vision, and therefore rely their specialized heat-sensing cells to locate prey.The Erycinae, also known as the Old World sand boas, are a subfamily of nonvenomous snakes in the family Boidae. The female bears live young, and can produce as many as 64 young in one cycle. Mating takes place during the dry season, which usually occurs between April and August. Young boa constrictors feed on mice, birds, bats and amphibians. The bulk of their diet consists of rodents and lizards. Scales are usually brown, gray or cream in base color with red-brown spots that are more pronounced near the tail.īoa constrictors prey on a variety of small to medium sized mammals and birds. They are heavy-bodied, with the largest specimens reaching up to 60 pounds. They are mainly terrestrial and commonly live in hollow logs and abandoned mammal burrows.ĭepending on location and available prey, boa constrictors can reach lengths anywhere from 3 to 13 feet.
As a capable swimmer, they are also found along rivers and streams. Native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, boa constrictors prefer warm, humid environments.
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