Kenya Sand Boa
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Kenya sand boas have alternating orange-and-brown speckled patterns running down the length of their back. They are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females differ in appearance. Females can grow up to 32 inches long while males max out at 15 inches. They spend much of their time hiding beneath the sand, under stones, and in burrows—they are excellent diggers and can quickly bury themselves. These snakes feed primarily on rodents, which they kill via constriction.
Interesting Fact 1
To avoid the extreme heat of their desert habitat, Kenya sand boas only emerge in the early morning and evening to hunt.
Interesting Fact 2
Eggs hatch while still inside the female’s body.
Interesting Fact 3
In order to mate, males often have to dig females out of the sand, where they spend most of their time.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
Support Your Zoo
Animals Depend On People Too
When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.
Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
