Context:
A report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India has pointed out 172 incidents of seizures of red sand boa between the years 2016-2021.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- Red Sand Boa
- Conservation Status
Red Sand Boa
- Belongs to the subfamily Erycinae in the Boidae family.
- Commonly known as the Indian Sand Boa.
Distribution and Behavior
- Non-venomous species found in arid regions across the Indian subcontinent.
- It is ovoviviparous and nocturnal and spends the majority of its time under the ground.
- Endemic to Iran, Pakistan, and India.
Physical Characteristics
- Typically reddish-brown, with a robust body averaging around 75 cm in length.
- Unusual Tail: The tail is nearly as thick as the body, creating a distinctive “double-headed” appearance.
Ecological Role
- Contributes to ecosystem balance by regulating prey and predator populations.
- Diet includes rodents, lizards, and even other snakes.
Conservation Status
- IUCN: Classified as “Near Threatened.”
- Protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Schedule IV).
- Listed in CITES Appendix II.
-Source: The Hindu
