One of South Asia’s most unusual and charming snakes, found across India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Unlike the sleek, fast-moving snakes people often imagine, this species is thick-bodied, slow, and almost earthworm-like in appearance. Its body is cylindrical and covered in smooth, shiny scales ranging from reddish-brown to coppery orange, giving it its “red” name. What really makes it stand out, though, is its blunt, rounded head and short, stumpy tail—features that make it look as though it has two heads! This strange adaptation is thought to confuse predators, who might strike at the tail instead of the real head, giving the snake a chance to escape.

Unlike vipers or cobras, the Red sand boa is non-venomous and completely harmless to humans. It is a burrowing snake, spending most of its time underground in loose soil, sandy areas, or scrublands. Its wedge-shaped snout and strong body muscles help it push through the earth, making it perfectly suited for a hidden, subterranean lifestyle. Because of this, people rarely see it above ground except during the rainy season, when it may come out at night to hunt. Its diet mainly consists of small mammals, lizards, and birds, which it kills by constriction—wrapping its muscular body around its prey until it can swallow it whole.

Because of its shiny, smooth scales and rounded body, people sometimes mistake it for a giant worm rather than a snake. Its gentle nature makes it one of the calmer snake species—when threatened, instead of striking, it often tucks its head under its coils and sticks out its tail to “fake” being a head. This trick, along with its odd proportions, makes it one of the most unusual-looking snakes in Asia.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Afghanistan

2019

India

2019

Iran

2019

Nepal

2019

Pakistan

2019