Common Sand Boa
Eryx conicus
A short, stout, patterned burrowing boa common across dry and semi-arid regions of the Indian subcontinent.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.5-0.75 m (1.6-2.5 ft)
- Range
- Indian subcontinent
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Overview
The Common Sand Boa is a small, robust constrictor well adapted to a life spent mostly underground in loose, sandy soils. It is one of the most frequently encountered sand boas across South Asia.
Like its relative the Red Sand Boa, it is sometimes caught up in wildlife trafficking driven by folk beliefs, though it holds no verified special properties.
How to identify it
- Short, thick body with rough, keeled dorsal scales giving a coarse texture
- Blotched or saddle-like pattern in shades of brown, tan, and gray
- Small eyes and a wedge-shaped head barely wider than the neck
- Short, tapering tail, less blunt than the Red Sand Boa's
- Distinguished from the Red Sand Boa by its more contrasting blotched pattern and rougher scales
Habitat & range
Found in sandy plains, scrub, and cultivated land across the Indian subcontinent, favoring loose soil for burrowing.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Primarily nocturnal and fossorial, surfacing mainly at night or after rain. Ambushes small mammals and lizards from just below the soil surface, using constriction. Gives birth to live young.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Common Sand Boa dangerous?
No, it is non-venomous and harmless to humans.
How is it different from the Red Sand Boa?
It has a more blotched, contrasting pattern and rougher scales, with a less blunt tail.
What habitat does it prefer?
Sandy and loose soils in scrub and agricultural areas across the Indian subcontinent.
What does it eat?
Small mammals and lizards, captured by ambush and killed by constriction.
Common Sand Boa guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Common Sand Boa.
