Eryx whitakeri | |
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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] | |
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]
The specific name whitakeri, as well as both of the above common names, are in honor of American-born Indian herpetologist Romulus Whitaker.[4]
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]
The preferred natural habitats of E. whitakeri are sea beaches and scrub forests.[5]
E. whitakeri may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 79 cm (31 in).[5]
E. whitakeri is viviparous.[6]