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Soldiers working on the perimeter of Camp Bucca rescued this large Arabian Sand Boa, which was endangered by construction work. A picture of the snake was sent to Robert George Sprackland, PhD, Director of The Virtual Museum of Natural History, who responded:
Thank you for the excellent photograph of one of the most exquisite specimens we have ever seen of the Arabian sand boa. The ones here that are exported from Egypt for zoos and pet shops pale in comparison. Sand boas are found across central North Africa east to India. All are characterized by blunt heads and tails, stout bodies, and an intricate upper pattern contrasting with a plain white belly. Like other boas, they are constrictors, which means they kill prey by holding its ribcage shut when the animal exhales. They feed on rodents and the occasional lizard, and are completely harmless to soldiers. Maximum size is about a meter. Males have a pair of claw-like spurs at the base of the tail. Sand boas spend most of their time under the sand, going deeper during the heat of the day, then lying in ambush for prey near the surface at night.
Shortly after this photo was taken, the boa crushed the stick holding it. The snake was then released a safe distance from the camp.

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2.3 kenyan sand boas (albino, anery het snow, normal)
0.6 ball python
1.3 brazillian rainbow boa
0.1 colombian rainbow boa

Pretty snake, but are you sure it is an Arabian sand boa. Looks like a Saharan sand boa (E. muelleri) to me, especially the head. Wish the pics were better. Where is Camp Bucca? I am unsure why Sprackland mentioned Egypt as E. jayakari does not occur there and as far as I know have never been exported out of that country. The ones in the USA right now came out of Saudi Arabia.

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>>Soldiers working on the perimeter of Camp Bucca rescued this large Arabian Sand Boa, which was endangered by construction work. A picture of the snake was sent to Robert George Sprackland, PhD, Director of The Virtual Museum of Natural History, who responded:
>>Thank you for the excellent photograph of one of the most exquisite specimens we have ever seen of the Arabian sand boa. The ones here that are exported from Egypt for zoos and pet shops pale in comparison. Sand boas are found across central North Africa east to India. All are characterized by blunt heads and tails, stout bodies, and an intricate upper pattern contrasting with a plain white belly. Like other boas, they are constrictors, which means they kill prey by holding its ribcage shut when the animal exhales. They feed on rodents and the occasional lizard, and are completely harmless to soldiers. Maximum size is about a meter. Males have a pair of claw-like spurs at the base of the tail. Sand boas spend most of their time under the sand, going deeper during the heat of the day, then lying in ambush for prey near the surface at night.
>>Shortly after this photo was taken, the boa crushed the stick holding it. The snake was then released a safe distance from the camp.
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>>2.3 kenyan sand boas (albino, anery het snow, normal)
>>0.6 ball python
>>1.3 brazillian rainbow boa
>>0.1 colombian rainbow boa
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Rick Staub
R&R Reptiles

i believe its in saudi arabia, the pic that is. and it looks like a large dark arabian to me.
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2.3 kenyan sand boas (albino, anery het snow, normal)
0.6 ball python
1.3 brazillian rainbow boa
0.1 colombian rainbow boa

buccas near the kuwait-irac border ,one of the pictures had a 1970 date,some the information below the picture didnt make sense,i have seen arabians with that large reduced and darker pattern and referenced from the north of their range, rick have you seen the red tailed pipe snakes in the class,wish i could handle them right now.i dont know why i love the fossorials ?

It was not the size of the snake but the width of its head that made me think it was muelleri. Jayakari heads are pretty narrow.

I have not seen the pipe snakes, but I am no longer at the university.

>>buccas near the kuwait-irac border ,one of the pictures had a 1970 date,some the information below the picture didnt make sense,i have seen arabians with that large reduced and darker pattern and referenced from the north of their range, rick have you seen the red tailed pipe snakes in the class,wish i could handle them right now.i dont know why i love the fossorials ?
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Rick Staub
R&R Reptiles