Pareidae
Atayal Slug-eating Snake
HarmlessPareas atayal
6 photographs of the Atayal Slug-eating Snake. © Jay Paroline.
The Atayal Slug-eating Snake (Pareas atayal) is a non-venomous snake in the Pareidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Pareidae
About the Atayal Slug-eating Snake
Pareas atayal, also known as the Atayal slug-eating snake, is a small, harmless snake endemic to Taiwan.
Description
Pareas atayal is a slender, yellow-brown snake which may reach about 50 cm (20 in) in length. Its dorsum is primarily yellow-brown or ochre with slightly lighter flanks and a yellow-white or crème belly and chin. Clear, darkly-colored vertical bars mark the sides of this snake, each being roughly two scales wide.
Very small brownish dots dust the flanks and dorsum of the snake, where the flanks possess less than the dorsum and the ventral surface possesses less than the flanks. Two very thin, but well-defined black stripes stem from the lower and upper edges of each postorbital scale.
The lower postorbital stripe reaches the anterior part of the seventh supralabial scale, but does not continue to the lower jaw or chin. The upper postorbital stripes meet at the base of the head, forming an M-shaped arch.
Behaviour
Like others of its genus, P. atayal is a nocturnal, invertebrate-eating snake with a preference for land snails and slugs.
Etymology
Pareas atayal is named after the native Taiwan aboriginal people, the Atayal, as they inhabit the same mountainous regions of northern Taiwan.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Atayal Slug-eating Snake
- Is the Atayal Slug-eating Snake venomous?
- No. The Atayal Slug-eating Snake (Pareas atayal) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Atayal Slug-eating Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Atayal Slug-eating Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Atayal Slug-eating Snake dangerous?
- The Atayal Slug-eating Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Atayal Slug-eating Snake live?
- The Atayal Slug-eating Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Chinese Taipei, China, Namibia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Atayal Slug-eating Snake?
- Pareas atayal is named after the native Taiwan aboriginal people, the Atayal, as they inhabit the same mountainous regions of northern Taiwan.
Where it is found
More Pareidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.