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Squamata, Serpentes: Pareatidae - Oriental Slug Eating Snakes
The Oriental Slug Eating Snakes have long been considered a subfamily of the Colubridae, although as long ago as 1956 Alfred Romer considered them distinct at the family level based on morphology. However, recent molecular evidence has suggested that this small group of snakes is indeed a lineage distinct from the family Colubridae (Vidal et al. 2007, C. R. Biologies 330:182-187). They have short skulls; relatively large eyes; a large nasal gland; have a relatively low number of scales at mid body (13-15 rows); the chin shields have no midline groove, and extend across the chin; they are nocturnal; they feed mostly upon gastropods and small vertebrates; and they lay eggs. These snakes form a basal lineage of the advanced snakes (Caenophidia). There are 3 genera and about 15 species currently recognized, all inhabit Southeast Asia.
Smooth Slug Eating Snake, Asthenodipsas laevis

Smooth Slug Eating Snake, Asthenodipsas laevis (Boie, 1827). Photographed in the Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Island of Borneo). Found on low vegetation at night in a primary rainforest. Occurs in Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Adults reach 600 mm.

Blunted Headed Slug Snake, Aplopeltura boa

Blunted Headed Slug Snake, Aplopeltura boa (Boie 1828). Photographed in the Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Island of Borneo). Ranges from Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia eastward to the Philippine Islands. The genus of this snake has also been spelled, Haplopeltura. Maximum adult size is about 835 mm. These slender snakes are arboreal and feed on gastropods (snails and slugs) but will also eat lizards.

Blunted Headed Slug Snake, Aplopeltura boa
Keeled Slug Snake, Pareas carinatus

Keeled Slug Snake, Pareas carinatus (Boie 1828). Photographed in southern Thailand. Ranges from Myanmar to Laos, and southern China and southward into Indochina and Indonesia. Adults reach 600 mm in total length. Females lay clutches of 3-5 eggs. Observations on captive snakes eating snails suggests that this species rests its upper jaw on the snail and uses its mandibles to pull the snail's body out of its shell.

Keeled Slug Snake, Pareas carinatus
White Spotted Slug Snake, Pareas margaritophorus

White Spotted Slug Snake, Pareas margaritophorus (Jan, 1866). Photographed in central Thailand. Ranges from Myanmar to China and southward into peninsular Malaysia and Indochina. Adults reach 470 mm. This small snake is abundant at many localities. It ranges from sea level to 1600 m in elevation.

White Spotted Slug Snake, Pareas margaritophorus
   
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