Boidae
Sahara Sand Boa
HarmlessEryx muelleri
The Sahara Sand Boa (Eryx muelleri) is a non-venomous snake in the Boidae family, recorded in 16 countries.
- Family
- Boidae
About the Sahara Sand Boa
Eryx muelleri, known commonly as Müller's sand boa or the Saharan sand boa, is a species of snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is endemic to Africa. There are two recognized subspecies. It is kept fairly regularly in the pet industry due to its docile nature and easy care.
Etymology
The specific name, muelleri, is in honor of Swiss herpetologist Fritz Müller.
Geographic range
Eryx muelleri is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, and Togo.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of Eryx muelleri are savanna and desert, at elevations from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft).
Behavior
Eryx muelleri is terrestrial, nocturnal, and fossorial.
Diet
Eryx muelleri preys predominately upon small rodents, but also eats lizards.
Reproduction
Eryx muelleri is oviparous.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominate subspecies.
Eryx muelleri muelleri Boulenger, 1892
Eryx muelleri subniger (Angel, 1938)
Nota bene: The trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Eryx.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Sahara Sand Boa
- Is the Sahara Sand Boa venomous?
- No. The Sahara Sand Boa (Eryx muelleri) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Sahara Sand Boa poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sahara Sand Boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Sahara Sand Boa dangerous?
- The Sahara Sand Boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Sahara Sand Boa live?
- The Sahara Sand Boa has verified records in 16 countries, including Mali, Senegal, Nigeria. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Sahara Sand Boa eat?
- Eryx muelleri preys predominately upon small rodents, but also eats lizards.
- Why is it called the Sahara Sand Boa?
- The specific name, muelleri, is in honor of Swiss herpetologist Fritz Müller.
Where it is found
More Boidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.