Erycinae: Difference between revisions

Erycinae; Temporal range: Eocene–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Javelin sand boa (Eryx jaculus)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Boidae
Subfamily:	Erycinae; Bonaparte, 1831
Synonyms
	Erycina ; Bonaparte, 1831; Erycidae ; Bonaparte, 1840; Erycina ; — Bonaparte, 1840; Erycides ; A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844; Charinidae ; Cope, 1900; Erycinae ; Kuhn, 1967; Erycinidae ; Kuhn, 1967;

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The Erycinae, also known as the Old World sand boas,^[1] are a subfamily of nonvenomous snakes in the family Boidae. Species of the subfamily Erycinae are found in Europe, Asia Minor, Africa, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and western North America. Four genera comprising 18 species are currently recognized as being valid.^[1]

Description[edit]

Erycinae is a subfamily of stout-bodied snakes, all of which are competent burrowers. The largest, E. johnii, rarely exceeds 120 cm (47 in) in total length (including tail). Most grow to around 60 cm (24 in) in total length. They have small eyes and hard, small scales to protect their skin from the grit of sand. A great deal of sexual dimorphism exists, with females generally becoming much larger than males.

Erycines have skeletal adaptations to burrowing. The skull is more compact than in the subfamily Boinae. Also, the vertebrae of the tail are increased in size but reduced in number.^[2]

Distribution and habitat[edit]

Erycines are found in Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, North, Central, West and East Africa, Arabia, Central and Southwest Asia, India, Sri Lanka, southwestern Canada, the western United States, and northwestern Mexico.^[3]

Fossil erycines have been found in rock strata over 50 million years old, and were once widespread in North America. Now, only four species remain in North America, as well as the Old World sand boas proper in Africa, Asia, and Southeastern Europe.

The oldest known erycines are from the Eocene-aged Messel Pit in Germany, named Rageryx schmidi.^[4]

Behavior[edit]

The majority of sand boas spend much of their time basking below the surface of the sand, with only their eyes or head exposed. When potential prey approaches, they erupt out of the sand, bite, and employ constriction to subdue it.

Feeding[edit]

The erycines' primary diet is rodents, but they have also been known to prey on lizards and birds.

Reproduction[edit]

Otherwise far removed from their boine relatives, erycines are generally ovoviviparous, i.e., giving birth to live young. At least two species lay eggs, however: the Arabian sand boa, Eryx jayakari, and the West African sand boa, Eryx muelleri.

Smuggling and poaching in India[edit]

Poaching and smuggling of sand boas is often reported in India.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] Most of the smuggled snakes go to the United States.^[9]^{[better source needed]} There is a misconception about their medicinal and aphrodisiacal properties, as well as the belief that keeping this snake as a pet brings wealth and prosperity.^[10]

Captivity[edit]

Eryx colubrinus, E. conicus and E. johnii are frequently available in the exotic pet trade and are often captive-bred. They breed readily, their small size making them an attractive option. They are usually not aggressive species, though they sometimes have a tendency to bite, and also spend the vast majority of their time hiding. Other species are not commonly available, but are occasionally imported.

Genera[edit]

Genus^[1]	Taxon author^[1]	Species^[1]	Subsp.*^[1]	Common name	Geographic range^[3]
Charina	Gray, 1849	2	0	rubber boas	North America from western Canada south through the western United States into northwestern Mexico
Eryx^T	Daudin, 1803	13	2	Old World sand boas	Southeastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Southwest Asia
Lichanura	Cope, 1861	2	3	rosy boas	North America from western Canada through the southwestern United States and into northwestern Mexico

Not including the nominate subspecies.
^T Type genus.^[3]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Erycinae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
^ Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978).
^ ^a ^b ^c McDiarmid, R.W.; Campbell, J.A., Touré, T. (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference Vol. 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^ Smith, Krister T.; Scanferla, Agustín (2021-01-14). "A nearly complete skeleton of the oldest definitive erycine boid (Messel, Germany)". Geodiversitas. 43 (1). doi:10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a1. ISSN 1280-9659. S2CID 231666355.
^ "Three held for trafficking rare snake species Three held for trafficking rare snake species". The Pioneer. India: CMYK Printech Ltd. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
^ "The Hindu : States / Tamil Nadu : Sand boa caught near Dharmapuri". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2011-01-04.
^ "Indore: Smugglers make crores with 'two-headed' snake". dailybhaskar. August 5, 2011.
^ "Sarpamitra, foresters bust racket selling sand boa - Times of India". The Times of India. 10 November 2011.
^ "Indian Sand Boa". www.kingsnake.com.
^ "Sand boa poachers eye big bucks". The Hindu. October 13, 2009 – via www.thehindu.com.

External links[edit]

Media related to Erycinae at Wikimedia Commons

The Sand Boa Page at Kingsnake.com. Accessed 16 July 2008.

[ITIS-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Erycinae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 8 July 2008.

[2] Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978).

[McD99-3] McDiarmid, R.W.; Campbell, J.A., Touré, T. (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference Vol. 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).

[4] Smith, Krister T.; Scanferla, Agustín (2021-01-14). "A nearly complete skeleton of the oldest definitive erycine boid (Messel, Germany)". Geodiversitas. 43 (1). doi:10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a1. ISSN 1280-9659. S2CID 231666355.

[5] "Three held for trafficking rare snake species Three held for trafficking rare snake species". The Pioneer. India: CMYK Printech Ltd. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2022.

[6] "The Hindu : States / Tamil Nadu : Sand boa caught near Dharmapuri". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2011-01-04.

[7] "Indore: Smugglers make crores with 'two-headed' snake". dailybhaskar. August 5, 2011.

[8] "Sarpamitra, foresters bust racket selling sand boa - Times of India". The Times of India. 10 November 2011.

[9] "Indian Sand Boa". www.kingsnake.com.

[10] "Sand boa poachers eye big bucks". The Hindu. October 13, 2009 – via www.thehindu.com.

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | oldest_fossil = Eocene
 | image = Eryx jaculus.jpg
-| image_caption = Javelin sand boa, ''[[Eryx jaculus|E. jaculus]]''
+| image_caption = Javelin sand boa (''[[Eryx jaculus]]'')
 | taxon = Erycinae
 | authority = [[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1831
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 }}
-The '''Erycinae''', known as the '''Old World sand boas''',<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS|id=563897|taxon=Erycinae|access-date=8 July 2008}}</ref> are a [[subfamily]] of [[Venom |nonvenomous]] [[snakes]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Boidae]]. [[Species]] of the subfamily Erycinae are found in [[Europe]], [[Asia Minor]], [[Africa]], [[Arabia]], central and southwestern [[Asia]], [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], and western [[North America]]. Two [[Genus|genera]] comprising 15 [[species]] are currently recognized as being valid.<ref name="ITIS"/>
+The '''Erycinae''', also known as the '''Old World sand boas''',<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS|id=563897|taxon=Erycinae|access-date=8 July 2008}}</ref> are a [[subfamily]] of [[Venom |nonvenomous]] [[snakes]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Boidae]]. [[Species]] of the subfamily Erycinae are found in Europe, [[Asia Minor]], Africa, [[Arabia]], central and southwestern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and western North America. Four [[Genus|genera]] comprising 18 [[species]] are currently recognized as being valid.<ref name="ITIS"/>
 ==Description==
-Erycinae is a subfamily of stout-bodied snakes, all of which are competent burrowers. The largest, ''[[Eryx johnii|E. johnii]]'', rarely exceeds {{convert|120|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length (including tail). Most grow to around {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length. They have small eyes and hard, small scales to protect their skin from the grit of sand. A great deal of [[sexual dimorphism]] exists, with females generally becoming much larger than males.
+Erycinae is a subfamily of stout-bodied snakes, all of which are [[fossorial|competent burrowers]]. The largest, ''[[Eryx johnii|E. johnii]]'', rarely exceeds {{convert|120|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length (including tail). Most grow to around {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length. They have small eyes and hard, small scales to protect their skin from the grit of sand. A great deal of [[sexual dimorphism]] exists, with females generally becoming much larger than males.
 Erycines have skeletal adaptations to burrowing. The skull is more compact than in the subfamily Boinae. Also, the vertebrae of the tail are increased in size but reduced in number.<ref>Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978).</ref>
 ==Distribution and habitat==
-Erycines are found in south southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, north, central, west and east Africa, Arabia, central and southwestern Asia, India, Sri Lanka, southwestern Canada, the western United States, and northwestern Mexico.<ref name="McD99">[[:fr:Roy Wallace McDiarmid|McDiarmid RW]], [[Jonathan A. Campbell|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. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).</ref>
+Erycines are found in Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, North, Central, West and East Africa, Arabia, Central and Southwest Asia, India, Sri Lanka, southwestern Canada, the western United States, and northwestern Mexico.<ref name="McD99">[[:fr:Roy Wallace McDiarmid|McDiarmid, R.W.]]; [[Jonathan A. Campbell|Campbell, J.A.]], Touré, T. (1999). ''Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference Vol. 1''. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).</ref>
-Fossil erycines have been found in rock strata over 50 million years old, and were once widespread in [[North America]]. Now, only two [[species]] remain in North America, as well as the sand boas in Africa, Asia, and southeastern [[Europe]].
+Fossil erycines have been found in rock strata over 50 million years old, and were once widespread in [[North America]]. Now, only four [[species]] remain in North America, as well as the Old World sand boas proper in Africa, Asia, and Southeastern [[Europe]].
-The oldest known erycines are from the [[Eocene]] aged [[Messel Pit]] in Germany.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=Krister T.|last2=Scanferla|first2=Agustín|date=2021-01-14|title=A nearly complete skeleton of the oldest definitive erycine boid (Messel, Germany)|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a1|journal=Geodiversitas|volume=43|issue=1|doi=10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a1|s2cid=231666355|issn=1280-9659}}</ref>
+The oldest known erycines are from the [[Eocene]]-aged [[Messel Pit]] in Germany, named ''[[Rageryx schmidi]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=Krister T.|last2=Scanferla|first2=Agustín|date=2021-01-14|title=A nearly complete skeleton of the oldest definitive erycine boid (Messel, Germany)|journal=Geodiversitas|volume=43|issue=1|doi=10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a1|s2cid=231666355|issn=1280-9659|doi-access=free}}</ref>
 ==Behavior==
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ==Feeding==
-The erycines primary diet is rodents, but they have also been known to prey on lizards and birds.
+The erycines' primary diet is rodents, but they have also been known to prey on lizards and birds.
 ==Reproduction==
-Otherwise far removed from their [[Boinae|boine]] relatives, erycines are generally [[Ovoviviparity|ovoviviparous]], i.e., giving birth to live young. At least three species lay eggs, however: the [[Calabar python]], ''Calabaria reinhardtii'' (once regarded as a [[Pythonidae|python]] for this reason), the Arabian sand boa, ''[[Eryx jayakari]]'', and the West African sand boa, ''E. muelleri''.
+Otherwise far removed from their [[Boinae|boine]] relatives, erycines are generally [[Ovoviviparity|ovoviviparous]], i.e., giving birth to live young. At least two species lay eggs, however: the Arabian sand boa, ''[[Eryx jayakari]]'', and the West African sand boa, ''[[Eryx muelleri]]''.
 ==Smuggling and poaching in India==
-Poaching and smuggling of sand boas is often reported in India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Three held for trafficking rare snake species Three held for trafficking rare snake species |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/19343-three-held-for-trafficking-rare-snake-species.html |access-date=23 September 2022 |work=The Pioneer |publisher=CMYK Printech Ltd |date=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510164915/http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/19343-three-held-for-trafficking-rare-snake-species.html |archive-date=10 May 2012 |location=India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article1025488.ece| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110104080320/http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article1025488.ece| archive-date = 2011-01-04| title = The Hindu : States / Tamil Nadu : Sand boa caught near Dharmapuri| website = [[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bhaskar.com/news/MP-IND-heads-or-tails-smugglers-make-crores-either-way-with-city-snake-2329214.html|title=Indore: Smugglers make crores with 'two-headed' snake|date=August 5, 2011|website=dailybhaskar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Sarpamitra-foresters-bust-racket-selling-sand-boa/articleshow/10674629.cms|title=Sarpamitra, foresters bust racket selling sand boa - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Most of the smuggled snakes go to the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kingsnake.com/sandboa/johnii.html|title=Indian Sand Boa|website=www.kingsnake.com}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=May 2019}} There is a misconception about their medicinal and aphrodisiacal properties, as well as the belief that keeping this snake as a pet brings wealth and prosperity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/Sand-boa-poachers-eye-big-bucks/article16494514.ece|title=Sand boa poachers eye big bucks|newspaper=The Hindu|date=October 13, 2009|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
+[[Poaching]] and smuggling of sand boas is often reported in India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Three held for trafficking rare snake species Three held for trafficking rare snake species |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/19343-three-held-for-trafficking-rare-snake-species.html |access-date=23 September 2022 |work=The Pioneer |publisher=CMYK Printech Ltd |date=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510164915/http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/19343-three-held-for-trafficking-rare-snake-species.html |archive-date=10 May 2012 |location=India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article1025488.ece| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110104080320/http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article1025488.ece| archive-date = 2011-01-04| title = The Hindu : States / Tamil Nadu : Sand boa caught near Dharmapuri| website = [[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bhaskar.com/news/MP-IND-heads-or-tails-smugglers-make-crores-either-way-with-city-snake-2329214.html|title=Indore: Smugglers make crores with 'two-headed' snake|date=August 5, 2011|website=dailybhaskar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Sarpamitra-foresters-bust-racket-selling-sand-boa/articleshow/10674629.cms|title=Sarpamitra, foresters bust racket selling sand boa - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=10 November 2011 }}</ref> Most of the smuggled snakes go to the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kingsnake.com/sandboa/johnii.html|title=Indian Sand Boa|website=www.kingsnake.com}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=May 2019}} There is a misconception about their medicinal and aphrodisiacal properties, as well as the belief that keeping this snake as a pet brings wealth and prosperity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/Sand-boa-poachers-eye-big-bucks/article16494514.ece|title=Sand boa poachers eye big bucks|newspaper=The Hindu|date=October 13, 2009|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
 ==Captivity==
-''[[Eryx colubrinus]]'', ''[[Eryx conicus|E. conicus]]'' and ''[[Eryx johnii|E. johnii]]'' are frequently available in the exotic pet trade and are often [[captive breeding|captive-bred]]. They breed readily, their small size making them an attractive option. They are usually not aggressive species, though they sometimes have a tendency to bite, and also spend the vast majority of their time hiding. <!-- So some keepers may not find them as enjoyable as the more gregarious species. --> Other species are not commonly available, but are occasionally imported.
+''[[Eryx colubrinus]]'', ''[[Eryx conicus|E. conicus]]'' and ''[[Eryx johnii|E. johnii]]'' are frequently available in the exotic pet trade and are often [[Captive breeding|captive-bred]]. They breed readily, their small size making them an attractive option. They are usually not aggressive species, though they sometimes have a tendency to bite, and also spend the vast majority of their time hiding. <!-- So some keepers may not find them as enjoyable as the more gregarious species. --> Other species are not commonly available, but are occasionally imported.
 [[File:Sand Boa.jpg|thumb|Rough-scaled sand boa]]
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 !bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Common name
 !bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Geographic range<ref name="McD99"/>
-|-
-|''Calabaria''
-|[[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1858
-|align="center"|1
-|align="center"|0
-|[[Calabar python]]
-|stlye="width:40%"|West and Central Africa
 |-
 |''[[Charina]]''
@@ Line 66: / Line 59: @@
 |align="center"|0
 |rubber boas
-|[[North America]] from southwestern Canada south through the western United States into northwestern Mexico
+|North America from western Canada south through the western United States into northwestern Mexico
 |-
-|''[[Eryx (genus)|Eryx]]''<span style="font-size:100%;"><sup>T</sup></span>
+|''[[Eryx (snake)|Eryx]]''<span style="font-size:100%;"><sup>T</sup></span>
 |[[François Marie Daudin|Daudin]], 1803
 |align="center"|13
-|align="center"|4
+|align="center"|2
 |Old World sand boas
-|Southeastern [[Europe]], North [[Africa]], the [[Middle East]] and southwestern [[Asia]]
+|Southeastern Europe, North Africa, the [[Middle East]] and Southwest Asia
 |-
 |''[[Lichanura]]''
@@ Line 80: / Line 73: @@
 |align="center"|3
 |rosy boas
-|North America from the southwestern United States into northwestern Mexico
+|North America from western Canada through the southwestern United States and into northwestern Mexico
 |-
 |}
-* Not including the nominate subspecies.<br /> <span style="font-size:100%;"><sup>T</sup></span> [[Type genus]].<ref name="McD99"/>
+* Not including the [[Subspecies#Nominotypical subspecies and subspecies autonyms|nominate subspecies]].<br /> <span style="font-size:100%;"><sup>T</sup></span> [[Type genus]].<ref name="McD99"/>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 93: / Line 86: @@
 ==Further reading==
 *[[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte, Carlo Luciano]] (1831). ''Saggio di una distribuzione metodica degli animali vertebrati.'' Rome: Antonio Boulzaler. 144 pp. (Subfamily "Erycina [sic]", p.&nbsp;67). (in [[Italian language|Italian]]).
-*[[:fr:Coleman Jett Goin|Goin CJ]], Goin OB, [[:de:George Robert Zug|Zug GR]] (1978). ''Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition''. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company. xi + 378 pp. {{ISBN|0-7167-0020-4}}. (Subfamily Erycinae, p.&nbsp;319).
+*[[:fr:Coleman Jett Goin|Goin, C.J.]]; Goin, O.B.; [[:de:George Robert Zug|Zug, G.R.]] (1978). ''Introduction to Herpetology''. Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company. xi + 378 pp. {{ISBN|0-7167-0020-4}}. (Subfamily Erycinae, p.&nbsp;319).
 ==External links==
 {{Commons category-inline}}
-*[http://www.kingsnake.com/sandboa/ The Sand Boa Page] at [http://www.kingsnake.com/ Kingsnake.com]. Accessed 16 July 2008. <!-- people believes that by keeping sand boas they got wealth by black magic and supernatural powers and senses.but there is no scientific evidence of this thought many superstitious are related with sand boas.government should try effectively for awareness about such superstitions and related thought and believes by awareness of science to control smuggling of sand boas.sand boas are friends of farmers as they move earth layers by movements which is beneficial for farmers. -->
+*[http://www.kingsnake.com/sandboa/ The Sand Boa Page] at [http://www.kingsnake.com/ Kingsnake.com]. Accessed 16 July 2008. <!-- people believe that by keeping sand boas they got wealth by black magic and supernatural powers and senses, but there is no scientific evidence of this thought. many superstitious are related with sand boas. government should try effectively for awareness about such superstitions and related thought and believes by awareness of science to control smuggling of sand boas. sand boas are friends of farmers, as they move earth layers by movements which are beneficial for farmers. -->
 {{Taxonbar|from=Q2220578}}
 [[Category:Erycinae| ]]
-[[Category:Tetrapod subfamilies]]
+[[Category:Snake subfamilies]]
 [[Category:Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte]]