Pareidae
Keeled Slug Snake
HarmlessPareas carinatus
5 photographs of the Keeled Slug Snake. © Jay Paroline.
The Keeled Slug Snake (Pareas carinatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Pareidae family, recorded in 9 countries.
- Family
- Pareidae
About the Keeled Slug Snake
The keeled slug-eating snake (Pareas carinatus) is a species of snake in the family Pareidae. It is relatively widespread in Southeast Asia, from southern China (Yunnan) to Burma and Indochina to the Malay Archipelago (Borneo, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Bali). Two subspecies are recognized: P. c. carinatus and P. c. unicolor, the latter being confined to Cambodia.
Keeled slug-eating snakes live in or near forests. They are nocturnal and mostly arboreal, and as the common name suggests, they feed exclusively on snails and slugs. They are oviparous.
While the species is negatively affected by forest destruction, IUCN considers these effects to be localized and not threatening the species.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Keeled Slug Snake
- Is the Keeled Slug Snake venomous?
- No. The Keeled Slug Snake (Pareas carinatus) 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 Keeled Slug Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Keeled Slug Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Keeled Slug Snake dangerous?
- The Keeled Slug Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Keeled Slug Snake live?
- The Keeled Slug Snake has verified records in 9 countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Viet Nam. See the distribution section below for its full range.
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.