All species Non-venomous Pending expert review
Rough-tailed sand boa
Eryx conicus
- වැලි පිඹුරා
- மண்ணுளிப் பாம்பு
This profile is pending review by a qualified herpetologist. Never rely on it to decide whether a snake is safe to approach.
Overview
A slow, thick-bodied burrowing snake that kills prey by constriction. Its blotched pattern is often mistaken for a Russell's viper, but it is not venomous.
How to recognise it
- 1Short, stout body with a short, blunt tail
- 2Irregular dark brown blotches, not the neat chain of ovals seen on a Russell's viper
- 3Small head barely wider than the neck, with small eyes
Where it lives
Sandy and loose soils, scrub and coastal areas, mainly in the dry zone.
