Sand Snakes

The Sand Snakes are the eight bastard daughters of Prince Oberyn Martell. Although noble-born bastards are often ignored by their parents, Oberyn has acknowledged and looked after all his daughters and has loving relationships with each of them. They are all loyal members of House Martell. Their nickname comes from the bastard surname used for noble bastards in Dorne and the nickname of their father, the "Red Viper". Oberyn has trained the oldest three —Obara, Nymeria, and Tyene— extensively in combat.

The five youngest Sand Snakes are daughters of Oberyn's paramour, Ellaria Sand. The eldest of Oberyn's daughters with Ellaria is the third Sand Snake, Tyene Sand.

The Sand Snakes

 * Obara Sand, the first Sand Snake, mothered by a peasant from the Reach.
 * Nymeria Sand, the second Sand Snake, mothered by an eastern noblewoman.
 * Tyene Sand, the third Sand Snake, mothered by Ellaria Sand.
 * Sarella Sand, the fourth Sand Snake, mothered by a Summer Islander ship captain.
 * Elia Sand, the fifth Sand Snake, mothered by Ellaria Sand, named after Oberyn's late sister.
 * Obella Sand, the sixth Sand Snake, mothered by Ellaria Sand.
 * Dorea Sand, the seventh Sand Snake, mothered by Ellaria Sand.
 * Loreza Sand, the eighth Sand Snake, mothered by Ellaria Sand.

In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the Sand Snakes are infamous throughout Dorne. Their names, in order of age, are Obara, Nymeria, Tyene, Sarella, Elia, Obella, Dorea, and Loreza. Obara was born of a prostitute from Oldtown, Nymeria of a noblewoman from Volantis, Tyene of a septa, Sarella of a trader from the Summer Isles, and the rest of Ellaria Sand. Despite inheriting widely different appearances from their birthmothers, they are all said to have their father's eyes. Being Dornish bastards, they all have the surname "Sand" and are associate members of their father's House.

The oldest four are close friends of Prince Doran Martell's daughter and heir, Princess Arianne.

Each of the eldest four Sand Snakes inherited or took after one of their father's famous traits. Obara has her father's martial prowess. Nymeria inherited Oberyn's good looks, sex drive, and cunning. Tyene has her father's skill with poisons. Sarella inherited her father's keen intellect.

The younger four Sand Snakes do not appear prominently in the first five novels, due to their ages: Elia Sand, the eldest, is fourteen years old near the end of the fifth novel, and Loreza (the youngest) is only around six years old. Elia, however, is old enough to share her half-sisters' rapport with Princess Arianne, and is just starting to be old enough to take part in the activities of her elders by the beginning of the sixth novel.

"Tyene Sand" in the TV series is basically a combination of book-Tyene Sand and book-Elia Sand into one character.