Eryx johnii explained

Eryx johnii is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is native to Iran, Pakistan, and India. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid.

Common names include: Indian sand boa,^[1] John's sand boa, iruthalai nagam,^[2] mannuli pambu, red sand boa, and brown sand boa.^[3]

Etymology

The specific name, johnii, is in honor of German naturalist Christoph Samuel John (1747–1813), who was a missionary in India from 1771 until his death.^[4]

Description

Adults of E. johnii rarely exceed 2feet in total length (including tail), although they sometimes reach 3 feet (91 cm). Adapted to burrowing, the head is wedge-shaped with narrow nostrils and very small eyes. The body is cylindrical in shape with small polished dorsal scales. The tail, which is blunt, rounded, and not distinct from the body, appears truncated. Coloration varies from reddish brown to dull yellow-tan.

Geographic range

E. johnii is found from Iran through Pakistan into western, southern, and northwestern India. The type locality given is "Tranquebar" (Tanjore, Trichy, southeastern Tamil Nadu, India). It is found in Indian desert. In western India, specifically in the state of Maharashtra, it is known as a Mandul snake (Marathi: मांडूळ साप).

Habitat

E. johnii is found in dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills up to elevation. It prefers loose sand, or sandy soil that crumbles easily, into which it burrows, living underground.

Diet

The diet of E. johnii consists mainly of mammals such as rats, mice, and other small rodents that are killed by constriction. Some specimens have apparently fed exclusively on other snakes.^[5]

Behavior

E. johnii is a very calm snake species.

Reproduction

E. johnii is ovoviviparous,^[3] with females giving birth to up to 14 young at a time in late summer to monsoon.

Illegal trade

E. johnii has many superstitious beliefs attributed to it because of its double-headed appearance, such as bringing good luck, curing AIDS, etc. Such blind faith has resulted in endangering the species, and in illegal trade in India, despite being a protected species under Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, of India.^[6]

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Eryx johnii, p. 248, Figure 76).
• Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Boidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I–XXVIII. (Eryx johnii, pp. 127–128).
• Daniel JC (2002). The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. 252 pp. .
• Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. . (Eryx johnii, p. 14).
• Gray JE (1849). Catalogue of the Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xv + 125 pp. (Clothonia johnii, pp. 110–111).
• Günther ACLG (1864). The Reptiles of British India. London: The Ray Society. (Taylor & Francis, printers). xxvii + 452 pp. + Plates I–XXVI. (Eryx johnii, pp. 334-335).
• Hallowell E (1848). Description of a species of Eryx from Madras. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 1848: 184.
• Russell P (1801). A Continuation of an Account of Indian Serpents; Containing Descriptions and Figures from Specimens and Drawings, Transmitted from Various Parts of India to the Hon. the Court of Directors of the East India Company [Volume 2]. London: East India Company. (W. Bulmer and Co., printers). v + 53 pp. + Plates I–LIV + index. (Boa johnii, new species, pp. 18–19 + Plate XVI).
• Smith MA (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Eryx johni johni, pp. 113–114, Figure 35).

Notes and References

1. [species:John M. Mehrtens|Mehrtens JM]
2. [Patrick Russell (herpetologist)|Russell]
3. www.reptile-database.org.
4. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]
5. Sights, Warren P.. Annotated List of Reptiles taken in Western Bengal. Herpetologica. 1949. 5. 4. 81–83.
6. Web site: Illegal trade flourishes in red sand boas - Times of India . articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131031125400/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-22/coimbatore/35301434_1_red-sand-boas-snake-coimbatore-zoo . 31 October 2013 . dead.