Pareas macularius
| Pareas macularius | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pareidae |
| Genus: | Pareas |
| Species: | P. macularius
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pareas macularius Theobald, 1868
| |
Pareas macularius, the mountain slug snake, is a species of snake found in southeast Asia and surrounding countries.
Description
Colouration
Ochre brown to red-brown with somewhat reticulated (having a grid- or network-like pattern) bars formed by particoloured scales—white in front and deep claret brown behind—that give the snake a half-banded, half-spotted appearance. A white nuchal collar mottled with claret-red is usually present. Brown spotted and mottled belly.[1]
Scalation
Fifteen rows of smooth dorsal scales are present across the entire body, though they may be weakly keeled posteriorly. Possesses 6 or 7 supralabial scales, anteriorly high and narrow; 5 to 7 subocular scales, not contacting the labial scales; One loreal scale; Subequal frontal scales; 8 sublabial scales; & 3 pairs of chin shields.[1]
Behaviour
Like its congeners, Pareas macularius is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal, oviparous snail and slug specialist.
Distribution
Pareas macularius can be found across much of southeastern Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and southern China.[2]
Etymology
The specific name macularius derives from the Latin word macula meaning "spot" or "blemish", referring to the snake's particolour spotted markings.
References
- ^ a b Linnean Society of London.; London, Linnean Society of (1865). The Journal of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology. Vol. v.10=no.41-48 (1870). London: Academic Press [etc.]
- ^ Pareas macularius at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 September 2019.