Eryx muelleri


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.

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
  • Eryx muelleri subniger
Nota bene: The trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Eryx.