Pareidae
Pareas nuchalis
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
3 photographs of the Pareas nuchalis. (c) Guo J.Y., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
Pareas nuchalis is a non-venomous snake in the Pareidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Pareidae
About the Pareas nuchalis
Pareas nuchalis, also known as the barred slug-eating snake, is a non-venomous snake native to Indonesia and Malaysia.
Description
Pareas nuchalis is mostly tan to light brown with weak dark brown vertebral spots and 61 to 78 transverse dark brown bands. Stripes beginning at the upper postocular scales contact one another at the nape of the neck, forming a large, black, ring-shaped blotch. The stripes beginning at the lower postocular scales are thick and black, reaching the anterior portion of the sixth supralabial scale and frequently continuing to the lower jaw and chin.
The belly is yellowish, sometimes with sparse brown dusting. The iris is whitish with brownish speckles and veins that become denser nearest the pupil.
Behaviour
Like its congeners, P. nuchalis is a nocturnal, oviparous, semi-arboreal snail and slug specialist.
Distribution
Until recently, it was considered endemic to Borneo, though it was recently recorded in central Sumatra, where it was previously confused for P. carinatus.
Etymology
The species name "nuchalis" is a Latin adjective in nominative singular meaning “nuchal” and was given in reference to the characteristic black ring-shaped spot on the nape.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Pareas nuchalis
- Is the Pareas nuchalis venomous?
- No. The Pareas nuchalis 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 Pareas nuchalis poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Pareas nuchalis is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Pareas nuchalis dangerous?
- The Pareas nuchalis is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Pareas nuchalis live?
- The Pareas nuchalis has verified records in 3 countries, including Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia. 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.