Kenyan Sand Boa

Eryx colubrinus

A short, stout East African boa that buries itself in sand with only its eyes peeking out, waiting to ambush prey.

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About the Kenyan Sand Boa

Kenyan sand boas are only about 1 to 2 feet long. They are yellow or orange with dark brown or black splotches, and their small eyes and nostrils sit on top of the head, so they can see and breathe while buried. A flat scale on the snout works like a shovel. They live in deserts, semi-deserts and dry savannas from Egypt to Tanzania.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Eryx colubrinus^[1]
Size: About 1 to 2 feet long.^[1]
Lifespan: 15 to 30 years in human care.^[1]
Diet: Carnivore. Rodents, birds and lizards.^[1]
Habitat: Desert, semi-desert and dry savanna with sandy soil.^[1]
Where it lives: East Africa, from Egypt to Tanzania.^[1]
Group life: Solitary. Semi-nocturnal and lives mostly underground.^[1]
Babies: 4 to 20 live-born young.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2014).^[2]

Fun facts

Sand boas hide in sand with only their eyes and nostrils showing.^[1]
Male sand boas have tiny spurs left over from ancient legs.^[1]
Baby sand boas are on their own as soon as they are born.^[1]

Vocabulary

fossorial: Living mostly underground.
ambush predator: A hunter that hides and waits for prey to come close.
vestigial: Still present but no longer used for its original job.
ovoviviparous: Making eggs that hatch inside the mother, so the babies are born alive.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Oakland ZooOakland, California · Animal AmbassadorsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Oakland Zoo. “Kenyan Sand Boa.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/kenyan-sand-boa/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Eryx colubrinus (Kenyan Sand Boa).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13264792/13264801 (accessed 2026-10-02)