CLASSIFICATION OF ERYX : SAND BOA (DHAMAN)
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present )
Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present )
Sub-phylum :- VERTEBRATA ( vertebral column present)
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present )
Super class :- TETRAPODA ( Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin)
Class :- REPTILIA ( Scaly vertebrates with right and left aortic arches. Single condyle, pulmonary respiration. Embryo with amnion and allantois ).
Sub-class :- DIAPSIDA ( Skull with two temporal openings separated by postorbital and squamosal ).
Order :- SQUAMATA ( Lizards and snakes with horny epidermal scales or shields. Quadrate bone movable. Vertebrae procoelous. Anal opening transverse).
Sub-order :- OPHIDIA ( Snakes. Limbs, feet, ear openings sternum and urinary bladder absent. Mandibles jointed anteriorly by ligament. Tongue slender, bifid and protrusible. Left lung reduced).
Family :- BOIDAE ( Vestiges of pelvic girdle and hind limb as 2 spurs on ventral sides ).
Genus :- Eryx : Sand Boa ( Dhaman )
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Eryx is found all over India, Sri Lanka, Africa and Asia.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Eryx : Sand boa is found in sandy regions. It remains hidden in sand and feeds on lizards, frog and mice.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF Eryx : Sand Boa ( Dhaman )
- Commonly called as sand boa, the common double mouthed snake (domuhi).
- It is about one meter in length. Body divided into head, neck, trunk and tail. Head contains eyes and nostril.
- Pinkish grey dorsal surface has irregular brown patches while ventral surface is yellowish.
- Entire body is covered with 40-45 rows of small dorsal scales, sometimes keeled in tail region- Ventral scales do not run across the body.
- Nostrils are slit-like. Tympanum absent.
- Tail region is as thick and blunt as head and hence it is called Domuha sanp (snake).
- Head and neck indistinguishable. Head scales primitive and 3 rows of scales enlarged.
- Eyes are small with vertical pupil and are reduced due to burrowing life.
Special features
Eryx (Sand Boa) is characterized by having blunt and thick tail end looking like he Sometimes snake crawls back and hence it is called as double-headed snake but actually th are no second mouth and head. It kills the prey by constriction body coiling.
Identification
Since this snake has blunt tail and above features, hence it is Eryx (Sand Boa).
