Name: Afro-Asian Sand Snake
Scientific name: Psammophis schokari schokari
Synonym: Skokari sand racer
Type: Snakes
Family: Colubridae
Habitat:
They occupy most habitats except high mountains and unvegetated desert. Commonly found around humans in parks and greenbelts. They will predate on young birds, rodents, lizards and bats.
World Distribution:
Common and widely distributed thoughout the Arabian Peninsula. Absent from the empty north-westHizaj mountains. This species extends its distribution with development of urban green belts. Elsewhere it is known from north-eastern Africa to western Asia.
Conservation status:
Not evaluated by IUCN Red List
Scientific publications:
Not in Qatar
Similar species:
Not in Qatar
Description:
Average adult sand snakes measure just below 100cm, exceptionally reaching 150cm. The head is long and narrow, shaped similar to a coffin. Head easiyl distinguished with the very thin neck region. Colour of the snakes are variable with two common forms. The first is tan coloured, with a pale tan-dotted line, consisting of small suture like marks running along the spine, with dark edged stripes running down the length of the body. with a white/cream ventral surface with heavy black or brown ventral stripe. The second form is darker brown with a white dorsal stripe with a yellowish stripe above the flanks and white stripe entering the ventral scales.
