Eryx whitakeri

Eryx whitakeri is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is endemic to India. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.[2]

Eryx whitakeri
Lateral and dorsal headviews of adult Eryx whitakeri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Eryx
Species:
E. whitakeri
Binomial name
Eryx whitakeri
Das, 1991
Synonyms[1]
  • Eryx whitakeri
    Das, 1991
  • Gongylophis whitakeri
    — Tokar, 1995
  • Eryx whitakeri
    — McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré, 1999
Common names: Whitaker's sandboa, Whitaker's boa.

Etymology

The specific name, whitakeri, as well as both of the above common names, are in honor of American-born, Indian herpetologist Romulus Whitaker.[3]

Geographic range
Juvenile in Pilerne, Goa (top view)
Adult Whitaker's boa in Pilerne, Goa

E. whitakeri is found in southwestern coastal India in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and southern Maharashtra.[1]

The type locality given is "Mangalore, Karnataka State, India".[1]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of E. whitakeri are sea beaches and scrub forests.[4]

Description

E. whitakeri may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 79 cm (31 in).[4]

Diet

E. whitaker preys upon small mice.[4]

Reproduction

E. whitakeri is viviparous.[5]

References
  1. 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).
  2. "Eryx whitakeri ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Eryx whitakeri, p. 284).
  4. Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN 0-88359-056-5. (Eryx whitakeri, p. 14).
  5. Species Eryx whtakeri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading
  • Whitaker R, Captain A (2004). Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Chennai: Draco Books. 495 pp. ISBN 978-81-901873-0-5.
  • Das I (1991). "A new species of Eryx (Boidae: Serpentes: Squamata) from south-western India". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 88 (1): 92–97. (Eryx whitakeri, new species).
  • Jones C (2004). "Sandboas". Reptilia 9 (3): 20–30.
  • Sharma RC (2003). Handbook: Indian Snakes. Kolkata: Zoological Survey of India. 292 pp. ISBN 978-8181711694.



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