Aplopeltura is a genus of snakes of the family Pareidae. It contains a single species, Aplopeltura boa, the blunthead slug snake or blunt-headed slug-eating snake.[1][2] It is a small, non-venomous snake. The species can be found in southern Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.[1]
| Aplopeltura | |
|---|---|
| |
| Aplopeltura boa, Khao Luang National Park. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pareidae |
| Genus: | Aplopeltura Duméril, 1853[3] |
| Species: | A. boa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aplopeltura boa | |
A. boa eats mainly snails, especially operculate species. Their jaws are more mobile than those of most other vertebrates. With their mandibles, they cut the operculum off from their prey with a unique "sawing" motion. [4]
A. boa has been observed performing simple death feigning behavior. The snake rolls itself into a spiral with its belly up, staying still until the threat leaves. Unlike other death feigning snakes, A. boa does not emit a foul odor or open its mouth. [5]
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Aplopeltura boa, Khao Sok National Park.
References
edit- ^ a b c Grismer, L.; Diesmos, A.C.; Gonzalez, J.C.; Jose, R. & Inger, R.F. (2012). "Aplopeltura boa". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. IUCN: e.T176342A1440473. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T176342A1440473.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ a b Aplopeltura at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 May 2016.
- ^ Duméril (1853). Prodrome de la classification des reptiles ophidiens, page 67.
- ^ Kojima, Yosuke (2020). "Mandibular sawing in a snail-eating snake". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 12670. Bibcode:2020NatSR..1012670K. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69436-7. PMC 7391773. PMID 32728121.
- ^ Jablonski, Daniel. "Death feigning behaviour in Aplopeltura boa". ResearchGate. Natural History Note. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
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