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Family : PAREIDAE
Species : Pareas carinatus
Maximum Size : 60 cm

This wide-ranging slug snake inhabits lowland and lower montane forests up to 1300 metres elevation. It is nocturnal and mainly arboreal in habits.

It has a remarkably blunt snout and relatively large eyes. Its body is relatively slender and is laterally compressed. Its colour is typically medium brown, patterned with darker spots and numerous narrow broken bars. There are dark markings on top of the head, and these may form a distinct cross shape, or may be somewhat less distinct (see Fig. 3). Its underside is pale yellow.

The feeding behaviour of Pareas carinatus and the manner in which it extracts snails from their shell is described and photographed in great detail by Götz (2002).

This species occurs in parts of southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia (northern states only), Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Bali. There are no records from Singapore.

Figs 1 to 3 : Specimen from Kaeng Krachan District, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand.  Photos thanks to Charles Currin.


References :

Das, I., 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.

Götz, M. (2002). The feeding behavior of the snail-eating snake Pareas carinatus Wagler 1830 (Squamata: Colubridae). Amphibia-Reptilia, 23(4), 487-493.

Tweedie, M., 1957. The Snakes of Malaya. Raffles Museum, Singapore.