Adults of E. johnii rarely exceed 2 feet (61 cm) in total length (including tail), although they sometimes reach 3 feet (91 cm). Adapted to burrowing, the head is wedge-shaped with narrow nostrils and very small eyes. The body is cylindrical in shape with small polished
dorsal scales. The tail, which is blunt, rounded, and not distinct from the body, appears truncated. Coloration varies from reddish brown to dull yellow-tan.
Geographic range
Eryx johnii is found from
Iran through
Pakistan into western, southern, and northwestern
India. The
type locality given is "
Tranquebar" (
Tanjore,
Trichy, southeastern
Tamil Nadu, India).[2] and found in Indian desert. In western India, specifically state of Maharashtra, it is known as a Mandul snake (Marathi: मांडूळ साप).
Habitat
Eryx johnii is found in dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky dry foothills. It prefers loose sand, or sandy soil that crumbles easily, into which it burrows, living underground.
Diet
The diet of E. johnii consists mainly of
mammals such as
rats,
mice, and other small
rodents that are killed by
constriction. Some specimens have apparently fed exclusively on other snakes.[9]
Reproduction
Eryx johnii is
ovoviviparous, with females giving birth to up to 14 young at a time in late summer to monsoon. It is a very calm snake species.
Illegal trade
Eryx johnii has many superstitious beliefs attributed to it because of its double-headed appearance, such as bringing good luck, curing
AIDS, etc. Such blind faith has resulted in endangering the species, and in illegal trade in India, despite being a protected species under Schedule IV of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, of India.[7]
^
abMcDiarmid RW,
Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp.
ISBN1-893777-00-6 (series).
ISBN1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^Mehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp.
ISBN0-8069-6460-X.
^
abBeolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp.
ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Eryx johnii, p. 135).
^"Eryx johnii ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
^Sights, Warren P. (1949). "Annotated list of reptiles taken in western Bengal". Herpetologica. 5 (4): 81–83.
Further reading
Boulenger GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Eryx johnii, p. 248, Figure 76).
Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Boidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Eryx johnii, pp. 127–128).
Daniels JC (2002). The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. 252 pp.
ISBN0-19-566099-4.
Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp.
ISBN0-88359-056-5. (Eryx johnii, p. 14).
Gray JE (1849). Catalogue of the Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xv + 125 pp. (Clothonia johnii, pp. 110-111).
Günther ACLG (1864). The Reptiles of British India. London: The Ray Society. (Taylor & Francis, printers). xxvii + 452 pp. + Plates I-XXVI. (Eryx johnii, pp. 334-335).
Hallowell E (1848). Description of a species of Eryx from Madras. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia1848: 184.
Russell P (1801). A Continuation of an Account of Indian Serpents; Containing Descriptions and Figures from Specimens and Drawings, Transmitted from Various Parts of India to the Hon. the Court of Directors of the East India Company [Volume 2]. London: East India Company. (W. Bulmer and Co., printers). v + 53 pp. + Plates I-LIV + index. (Boa johnii, new species, pp. 18–19 + Plate XVI).
Smith MA (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Eryx johni johni, pp. 113–114, Figure 35).
External links
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