Eryx whitakeri, also commonly known as Whitaker's sand boa or Whitaker's boa, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is endemic to India. No subspecies are recognized.[3]
| Eryx whitakeri | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lateral and dorsal headviews of adult Eryx whitakeri | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Boidae |
| Genus: | Eryx |
| Species: | E. whitakeri
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| Binomial name | |
| Eryx whitakeri Das, 1991
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| Synonyms[2] | |
Etymology
editThe specific name whitakeri, as well as both of the above common names, are in honor of American-born Indian herpetologist Romulus Whitaker.[4]
Geographic range
edit.JPG)
E. whitakeri is found in southwestern coastal India in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and southern Maharashtra.[2]
The type locality given is "Mangalore, Karnataka State, India".[2]
Habitat
editThe preferred natural habitats of E. whitakeri are sea beaches and scrub forests.[5]
Description
editE. whitakeri may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 79 cm (31 in).[5]
Diet
editReproduction
editE. whitakeri is viviparous.[6]
References
edit- ^ Srinivasulu, C.; Das, A.; Mohapatra, P.; Srinivasulu, B.; Shankar, G.; Achyuthan, N.S.; Vyas, R.; Thakur, S.; Kulkarni, N.U.; Jose, J.; Sawant, N.S.; Aengals, A.; Deepak, V. (2021). "Eryx whitakeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T172652A1359593. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T172652A1359593.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b c McDiarmid 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. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ "Eryx whitakeri ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Eryx whitakeri, p. 284).
- ^ a b c Das I (2002). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN 0-88359-056-5. (Eryx whitakeri, p. 14).
- ^ Species Eryx whitakeri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
Further reading
edit- Whitaker R, Captain A (2004). Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Chennai: Draco Books. 495 pp. ISBN 978-81-901873-0-5.
- Das I (1991). "A new species of Eryx (Boidae: Serpentes: Squamata) from south-western India". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 88 (1): 92–97. (Eryx whitakeri, new species).
- Jones C (2004). "Sandboas". Reptilia 9 (3): 20–30.
- Sharma RC (2003). Handbook: Indian Snakes. Kolkata: Zoological Survey of India. 292 pp. ISBN 978-8181711694.
External links
edit- Image of Eryx whitakeri at India Nature Watch. Accessed 10 July 2008.