erycidæ

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. A family of colubriform serpents found in deserts of many parts of the world, having a pair of conical anal protuberances, and a short, thick, non-prehensile tail, which assists the creature in working its way into sand and gravel; the sand-snakes. Charina has been regarded as an American representative, but is quite distinct. The family is seldom maintained, most of its members being placed in Boidæ, Charina being made the type of another family. See Eryx.