Pareidae
White-spotted slug snake
HarmlessPareas margaritophorus
The White-spotted slug snake (Pareas margaritophorus) is a non-venomous snake in the Pareidae family, recorded in 10 countries.
- Family
- Pareidae
About the White-spotted slug snake
The mountain slug snake (Pareas margaritophorus), also known as the white-spotted slug snake, is a small, harmless species of snake that is rather common in South, South-East, and East Asia, and feeds on small invertebrates.
Characteristics
Mountain slug snakes are forest-dwellers that are about small to medium-sized. They have fangs that are located on their lower jaw in which they can use to remove the snail from their shells to eat. They have blunt heads that are wider than their actual body width. It averages about 47 cm in length and can be spotted by its collar that can be yellow or orange with a grey or brown body. It also has black scales with a pale underside with dark spots.
Habits
The mountain slug snake is a nocturnal species that is active on the forest floor or on shallow vegetation that are usually found in lowland or lower mountain forests that are at the elevation of 1500 meters.
Diet
Mountain slug snakes feed on the following invertebrates:
snails
slugs
earthworms
Distribution
It is found in NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and China.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: White-spotted slug snake
- Is the White-spotted slug snake venomous?
- No. The White-spotted slug snake (Pareas margaritophorus) 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 White-spotted slug snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The White-spotted slug snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the White-spotted slug snake dangerous?
- The White-spotted slug snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the White-spotted slug snake live?
- The White-spotted slug snake has verified records in 10 countries, including China, Hong Kong, Thailand. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the White-spotted slug snake eat?
- Mountain slug snakes feed on the following invertebrates: snails slugs earthworms
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.