Rough-scaled Sand Boa (Eryx conicus) is a small burrowing snake belonging to the boa family, Boidae. It is also know as Common Sand Boa and Russell's Earth Boa. Length varies from 50 to 100 cm.
It is a thick bodied snake with black or brown dorsal mottles on a fawn or yellowish brown body. The neck is non-evident and snout blunt. The thick body houses powerful muscles required to bring quick death to prey by constriction. Diet consists of rats and small birds.
Although it is called a Sand Boa, it is not restricted to sandy soils; in fact, it is more common in dry steppes, agricultural areas and even into some of the wetter forests of the subcontinent. It is a fairly common snake in India and is occasionally used by snake charmers.
