Highly fossorial, nocturnal, feeding extensively on other snakes, including worm snakes (Leptotyphlopidae), skinks, and rodents. Werner (1985) reports on one specimen from Israel which had ingested an Eirenis coronelloides (Jan 1862), about 75% of its own length. Venomous to humans.
Least Concern
A medium-sized, relatively slender snake. Largest Egyptian specimen has a total length of 685 mm. Tail short, tail / total length = 0.07; rostral large, protruding; nostril in a completely divided nasal; 6 supralabials, fourth enters the eye; eye small, pupil round; 275-282 ventrals, 34-36 single subcaudals; dorsals smooth, 28-29 scale rows around mid-body; anal entire (based on 3 Egyptian specimens). Dorsum and venter plain black.
Wadi Feiran, South Sinai & St. Katherine
Sinai, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, south into western Arabia.
Loose soils in fairly mesic localities, in or near oases, large wadis in desert and semi-desert.
Rare and very localized. In Egypt it is Vulnerable.
