The mountain slug snake (Pareas margaritophorus), also known as the white-spotted slug snake, is a small, harmless species of snake that is rather common in South, South-East, and East Asia, and feeds on small invertebrates.
| Spotted slug snake | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pareas margaritophorus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pareidae |
| Genus: | Pareas |
| Species: | P. margaritophorus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pareas margaritophorus | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
Characteristics
editMountain slug snakes are forest-dwellers that are about small to medium-sized. They have fangs that are located on their lower jaw in which they can use to remove the snail from their shells to eat. They have blunt heads that are wider than their actual body width. It averages about 47 cm in length and can be spotted by its collar that can be yellow or orange with a grey or brown body. It also has black scales with a pale underside with dark spots.[4]
Habits
editThe mountain slug snake is a nocturnal species that is active on the forest floor or on shallow vegetation that are usually found in lowland or lower mountain forests that are at the elevation of 1500 meters.[4]
Diet
editMountain slug snakes feed on the following invertebrates:[4]
- snails
- slugs
- earthworms
Distribution
editIt is found in NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and China.[3]
References
edit- ^ Stuart, B.; Wogan, G.; Grismer, L.; Thy, N.; Nguyen, T.Q. (2012). "Pareas margaritophorus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192017A2028502. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192017A2028502.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. London. p. 445.
- ^ a b Pareas margaritophorus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "White-spotted Slug Snake". Ecology Asia. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- Jan, Giorgio. 1866. in: Bocourt, F. Notes sur les reptiles, les batraciens et les poissons recueilles pendant un voyage dans le Royaume de Siam. Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris. 2(2):4-20.
- Theobald, William. 1868. Catalogue of the reptiles of British Burma, embracing the provinces of Pegu, Martaban, and Tenasserim; with descriptions of new or little-known species. Jour. Linnean Soc., London, Zool., 10: 4-67.