Kenyan Sand Boa

The Kenyan Sand Boa is one of the world’s smallest species of boa constrictor, and are typically no larger than 15-25 inches long. They are fossorial, meaning they usually are found just under the substrate (such as sand or loose soil.) They have tiny, unblinking eyes that are located on the top of their head to see more easily above the surface. However, when they hunt, their main two methods of detecting prey are via their sense of touch and smell. They can feel when animals scurry across the surface of the sand, and like all snakes, they smell with their flickering forked tongue. When the sand boa is ready to grab their prey, they quickly spring their head out of the soil and bite down, while simultaneously wrapping around the animal to constrict breathing. Once the prey they have caught is ready to eat, they swallow them whole.