Pareas macularius
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 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.
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.
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.
Etymology
The specific name macularius derives from the Latin word macula meaning "spot" or "blemish", referring to the snake's particolour spotted markings.