Pareidae
Malayan slug snake
HarmlessAsthenodipsas malaccanus
6 photographs of the Malayan slug snake. © Jay Paroline.
The Malayan slug snake (Asthenodipsas malaccanus) is a non-venomous snake in the Pareidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Pareidae
About the Malayan slug snake
The Malayan slug snake belongs to the Pareidae family, slug-eating snakes. Snail and slug specialists with lopsided jaws.
Pareid snakes are slow, harmless, mostly nocturnal snakes that eat snails and slugs. Many have asymmetric jaws, with more teeth on one side, an adaptation for extracting snails from right-coiling shells.
Its genus, Asthenodipsas, covers slug-eating snakes. Small, slow-moving Asian forest snakes that have specialized so completely on slugs and snails that their jaws are built around the job.
The Malayan slug snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.
It has been recorded in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Malayan slug snake
- Is the Malayan slug snake venomous?
- No. The Malayan slug snake (Asthenodipsas malaccanus) 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 Malayan slug snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Malayan slug snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Malayan slug snake dangerous?
- The Malayan slug snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Malayan slug snake live?
- The Malayan slug snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Pareidae snakes
Smooth Slug SnakeAsthenodipsas laevis
Asian Slug SnakeAsthenodipsas vertebralis
Bornean dark-necked slug snakeAsthenodipsas borneensis
Asthenodipsas lasgalenensisAsthenodipsas lasgalenensis
Asthenodipsas ingeriAsthenodipsas ingeri
Asthenodipsas stuebingiAsthenodipsas stuebingi
Jamil Slug SnakeAsthenodipsas jamilinaisi
Sumatran Slug SnakeAsthenodipsas tropidonotus
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Pareidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Asthenodipsas
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Asthenodipsas malaccanus
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. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.