Erycinae
The Erycinae are a subfamily of nonvenomous snakes in the family Boidae. Species of the subfamily Erycinae are found in Europe, Asia Minor, Africa, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and western North America. Three genera comprising 15 species are currently recognized as being valid.[1]
| Erycinae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Javelin sand boa, E. jaculus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Boidae |
| Subfamily: | Erycinae Bonaparte, 1831 |
| Synonyms | |
| |
- Common names: Old World sand boas[1]
Description
Erycinae is a subfamily of stout-bodied snakes, all of which are competent burrowers. The largest, E. johnii, rarely exceeds 120 cm (47 in) in total length (including tail). Most grow to around 60 cm (24 in) in total length. They have small eyes and hard, small scales to protect their skin from the grit of sand. A great deal of sexual dimorphism exists, with females generally becoming much larger than males.
Erycines have skeletal adaptations to burrowing. The skull is more compact than in the subfamily Boinae. Also, the vertebrae of the tail are increased in size but reduced in number.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Erycines are found in south southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, north, central, west and east Africa, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, southwestern Canada, the western United States, and northwestern Mexico.[3]
Fossil erycines have been found in rock strata over 50 million years old, and were once widespread in North America. Now, only two species remain in North America, as well as the sand boas in Africa, Asia, and southeastern Europe.
Behavior
The majority of Sand boas spend much of their time basking below the surface of the sand, with only their eyes or head exposed. When potential prey approaches, they erupt out of the sand, bite, and employ constriction to subdue it. Sometimes they come out to explore and bask.
Feeding
The primary diet of erycines consists of rodents, but they have also been known to prey on lizards and birds.
Reproduction
Otherwise far removed from their boine relatives, erycines are generally ovoviviparous, i.e., giving birth to live young. At least three species lay eggs, however: the Calabar python, Charina reinhardtii (once regarded as a python for this reason), the Arabian sand boa, Eryx jayakari, and the West African sand boa, E. muelleri.
Smuggling and poaching in India
Poaching and smuggling of sand boas is often reported in India.[4][5][6][7] Most of the smuggled snakes go to the United States.[8] 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.[9]
Captivity
Gongylophis colubrinus, G. conicus and E. johnii are frequently available in the exotic pet trade and are often captive bred. They breed readily, their small size making them an attractive option. They are usually not aggressive species, though they sometimes have a tendency to bite, and also spend the vast majority of their time hiding. Other species are not commonly available, but are occasionally imported.
Genera
| Genus[1] | Taxon author[1] | Species[1] | Subsp.*[1] | Common name | Geographic range[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charina | Gray, 1849 | 2 | 0 | rosy boas, rubber boas | North America from southwestern Canada south through the western United States into northwestern Mexico |
| EryxT | Daudin, 1803 | 9 | 2 | Old World sand boas | Southeastern Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East and southwestern Asia |
| Gongylophis | Wagler, 1830 | 3 | 0 | sand boas | Africa from Mauritania and Senegal east to Egypt and south to Tanzania, also reported from the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Subcontinent from eastern Pakistan, eastern India and Bangladesh south as far as northwestern Sri Lanka |
* Not including the nominate subspecies.
T Type genus.[3]
References
- "Erycinae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978).
- McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/19343-three-held-for-trafficking-rare-snake-species.html
- http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article1025488.ece
- "Indore: Smugglers make crores with 'two-headed' snake". dailybhaskar. August 5, 2011.
- "Sarpamitra, foresters bust racket selling sand boa - Times of India". The Times of India.
- "Indian Sand Boa". www.kingsnake.com.
- "Sand boa poachers eye big bucks". October 13, 2009 – via www.thehindu.com.
Further reading
- Bonaparte, Carlo Luciano (1831). Saggio di una distribuzione metodica degli animali vertebrati. Rome: Antonio Boulzaler. 144 pp. (Subfamily "Erycina [sic]", p. 67). (in Italian).
- Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company. xi + 378 pp. ISBN 0-7167-0020-4. (Subfamily Erycinae, p. 319).
External links
Media related to Erycinae at Wikimedia Commons
- The Sand Boa Page at Kingsnake.com. Accessed 16 July 2008.