Sistan sand boa

Sistan sand boa Latest News

A new study reports the first confirmed record in India of the Sistan sand boa (Eryx sistanensis), a species formally described only in 2020 and previously known from Iran and Pakistan.

Why in News?

• The Sistan sand boa was documented from the northern Thar Desert in Rajasthan. 
• It is the first confirmed record in India of the Sistan sand boa, formally described only in 2020 and previously known from Iran and Pakistan.  
• The discovery effectively adds a fourth species of sand boa to India, alongside the red sand boa (Eryx johnii), rough-scaled sand boa (Eryx conicus), and Whitaker’s boa (Eryx whitakeri). 

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About Sistan sand boa

• It is a species of sand boa snake. 
• Scientific Name: Eryx sistanensis
• It can be distinguished from the red sand boa by its persistent dark bands and a tail that gradually tapers towards the tip. 
• While red sand boas lose their body bands as they mature, the Sistan sand boa retains its sooty bands throughout life. 
• Juveniles are buff-coloured, while subadults and adults are tan to tan-brown. 
• The species has not yet been evaluated by the IUCN.

Key Facts about Sand Boas

• Sand Boas are a group of non-venomous snakes belonging to the genus Eryx.  
• Unlike most snakes, the tail of a sand boa snake is almost as thick as the body and gives the reptile the appearance of being “double-headed”.
• These snakes prefer dry, sandy, and loose soil environments that support their fossorial lifestyle.
• Body coloration is pale yellow to reddish to brownish, depending on the type of soil in the region.  
• Most species display a mottled or blotched pattern that blends perfectly with their sandy and pebbly surroundings, an adaptation known as protective coloration. 
• Sand boas spend most of their time buried just below the surface in sand or loose soil, exposing only the eyes and nostrils. 
• They seize passing prey, consisting of mostly mice and lizards, which they kill by constriction. 

News: MONG