The Egyptian Sand Boa
The common name for this snake is Egyptian Sand Boa. The scientific namefor the sand boa is Eryx colubrinus . The sand boa's habitat is the sandy soil, or semi desert scrub savannah. The sand boa's geographic range is from Egypt to as far south as Kenya and Yemen and as far west as Niger. Egyptian and Kenyan sand boa's are almost exactly alike. The classroom habitat is a small cage with chips and water bowl.
In the wild the sand boa eats small rodents and lizards. In the classroom it eats small mice. In the wild birds of prey and bigger snakes eat it.
This snake breeds in June and July and gives birth in October and November. It has live young. The sand boa is alone until mating season. After the birth, the mother leaves and the babies are left on their own. The babies are 8 inches to 10 inches long. The babies eat nestling rodents and lizards.
The sand boa's life span is 27 to 30 years. This snake has a good body for burrowing.
Egyptian Sand Boa