Pareidae
Di Linh Snail-eating Snake
HarmlessPareas temporalis
3 photographs of the Di Linh Snail-eating Snake. (c) Phan Vũ Phúc Lân, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Di Linh Snail-eating Snake (Pareas temporalis) is a non-venomous snake in the Pareidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Pareidae
About the Di Linh Snail-eating Snake
Pareas temporalis, also known as the Di Linh slug-eating snake, is a non-venomous snake endemic to southern Vietnam.
Description
Pareas temporalis has a yellow-brown to orange dorsum with dark brown speckling and a solid dark brown dorsal stripe extending from behind their nuchal collar along the entire length of the body and tail, edged by two light yellowish paravertebral lines. The top of the head is light brown while the supralabial scales are yellow-white, both with occasional small, brown spots.
The ventral surfaces of the head, body, and tail are all yellowish-cream with sparse brownish dusting and irregular spots. The iris is amber to bright orange with a black pupil.
Two stripes begin at the postocular scales; the upper stripes extend from the upper corner of the eyes to the temporal area before dividing into two long stripes that meet in an 'X' shape at the nape, while the lower postocular stripes, frequently interrupted, extend to the corner of the jaw posteriorly over the lower temporal scales to the eighth and seventh supralabial scales- but not the chin or lower jaw- before converging to join the black nuchal collar.
Behaviour
Like its congeners, P. temporalis is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal, oviparous snail and slug specialist.
Distribution
Pareas temporalis is endemic to the Langbian Plateau of southern Vietnam.
Etymology
The specific Latin epithet temporalis refers to its high number of temporal scales.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Di Linh Snail-eating Snake
- Is the Di Linh Snail-eating Snake venomous?
- No. The Di Linh Snail-eating Snake (Pareas temporalis) 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 Di Linh Snail-eating Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Di Linh Snail-eating Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Di Linh Snail-eating Snake dangerous?
- The Di Linh Snail-eating Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Di Linh Snail-eating Snake live?
- The Di Linh Snail-eating Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Viet Nam. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Di Linh Snail-eating Snake?
- The specific Latin epithet temporalis refers to its high number of temporal scales.
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.