Erycinae

Taxobox
name = Erycinae

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image_caption = Javelin sand boa, "E. jaculus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Boidae
subfamilia = Erycinae
subfamilia_authority = Bonaparte, 1831
synonyms = * Erycina - Bonaparte, 1831
* Erycidae - Bonaparte, 1840
* Erycina - Bonaparte, 1840
* Erycides - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
* Calabariina - Gray, 1858
* Charinidae - Cope, 1900
* Erycinae - Kuhn, 1967
* Erycinidae - Kuhn, 1967
* Calabariinae - Stafford, 1986McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).]

:"Common names: Old World sand boas.ITIS|ID=563897|taxon=Erycinae|year=2008|date=8 July] "The Erycinae are a subfamily of non-venomous boas 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.

Description

A group of stout-bodied snakes, all of which are competent burrowers. The largest, "E. johnii" rarely exceeds 120 cm. Most grow to around 60 cm in length. They have small eyes and hard, small scales to protect their skin from from the grit of sand. There is a great deal of sexual dimorphism, females generally becoming much larger than males.

Geographic range

Found in south and southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, north, central, west and east Africa, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia, India, Sri Lanka. Also in southwestern Canada, the western United States and northwestern Mexico.

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 these snakes spend much of their time basking below the surface of the sand, with only their eyes or head exposed on the surface. When a potential prey item approaches, they erupt out of the sand, bite and employ constriction to subdue it.

Feeding

Their primary diet consists of rodents, but they have also been known to prey on lizards and birds.

Reproduction

Otherwise far removed from their boine cousins, one thing they do have in common is that they are generally ovoviviparous, i.e. giving birth to live young. Still, at least three species lay eggs: 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".

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. On the down side, they sometimes have a tendency to be a little nippy while spending the vast majority of their time hiding, so some keepers may not find them as enjoyable as the more gregarious species. Other species are not commonly available, but are occasionally imported, not usually captive bred.

Genera

"*) Not including the nominate subspecies."
^T) Type genus.

Taxonomy

Some sources also include the genus "Calabaria", which is synonymized here with the genus "Charina".

ee also

* List of erycine species and subspecies
*
*

References

External links

* [http://www.kingsnake.com/sandboa/ The Sand Boa Page] at [http://www.kingsnake.com/ Kingsnake.com] . Accessed 16 July 2008.