First observations of oophagy in a wild population of the sand boa (Eryx jaculus)

Abstract

The sand boa Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) is found in the southern Balkans, Middle East and North Africa (Sindaco et al., 2013). Only recently The presence of this species has been confirmed in Italy, in a small area of southern Sicily (Insacco et al., 2015). Knowledge of the sand boa in Sicily is limited with few data on geographical distribution, morphology, and habitat (Insacco et al., 2015; Faraone et al., 2017). Even at a global scale the biology of this species is little known due to its secretive habits (Tokar & Obst, 1993).