The Spotted Sand Boa (Eryx jaculus)

Other images

captive born jaculus from Turkish parents (courtesy of Thomas Müller)

Spotted Sand Boa (courtesy Dave Sorenson)

Other names

Turkish Sand Boa, Greek Sand Boa, European Sand Boa, Blind Snake

Introduction

The Spotted Sand Boa is a Sand Boa of the Mediterranean shores.   It is found from Greece east and south through the Middle East and west into north Africa.   It is found on several Mediterranean islands (including Sicily!? (Tokar, 1991)).   To the west it also found in Iran and Iraq, and north into Azerbaijan.   In north Africa it is found from Egypt west into Morocco.

There have been a number of different subspecies associated with this species.   However, Tokar (1991) found that the subspecific divisions were unwarranted and I follow his taxonomy here.

This species can be very difficult to identify with certainty without good locality data.   I have had the snake in the picture for 6 years before I realized it was probably an E. jaculus rather than E. tataricus.

For further information on the Spotted Sand Boa, I refer you to an excellent article in the April 1990 issue of the Vivarium by Stephen Simpson and Angela Ellis (see references).

References

Simpson, S. and A. Ellis. 1990. The Hardy and Prolific Sand Boa. Vivarium 4(2):20-24.

Tokar, A.A. 1991. A revision of the subspecies structure of the javelin sand boa Eryx jaculus (L. 1758) (Reptilia Boidae). Herpetology of Central Asia, Leningrad: LISS Publ. 1: 18-41 (in Russian).

Go on to the Arabian Sand Boa
Return to the Genus Eryx
Return to the Sand Boa Home Page

© Chris Harrison

advertise here

New & Updated Business Listings

Looking for a reptile or amphibian related business? A reptile store, breeder, importer, maunfacturer or supplier? Our business directory lists some of the most popluar herp businesses in the world. Locate a reptile or amphibian business by name: select a businessApet Inc. California Zoological Supply Dragon Serpents ETHS Conference and Expo Eublah Exotics Florida Iguana & Tortoise Breeders Indian River Reptile Zoo International Reptile Conservation Foundation Jungle Bob's Reptile World Kentucky Reptile Expo LLL Reptile - Chandler LLL Reptile - Escondido LLL Reptile - Henderson LLL Reptile - Las Vegas LLL Reptile - Menifee LLL Reptile - Oceanside LLL Reptile - Peoria LLL Reptile - San Diego Mark Kennedy Reptiles Mouse Works LLC Northwest Zoological Supply Predator Foods QBall Morphs Terra Tropica Plants The Big Cheese Rodent Factory Virginia Reptile Rescue Xtreme Exotics Zeigler Animal Feeds Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

New	Updated
list your business on kingsnake.com

Banner Pool

advertise here - click for info