[8] The specific name, johnii, is in honor of German naturalist Christoph Samuel John (1747–1813), who was a missionary in India from 1771 until his death.

[citation needed] E. johnii is found from Iran through Pakistan into western, southern, and northwestern India.

[1] The diet of E. johnii consists mainly of mammals such as rats, mice, and other small rodents that are killed by constriction.

[citation needed] E. johnii is ovoviviparous,[8] with females giving birth to up to 14 young at a time in late summer to monsoon.

[1] E. johnii has many superstitious beliefs attributed to it because of its double-headed appearance, such as bringing good luck, curing AIDS, etc.