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 Edit this 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
Boie, 1828[2]

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]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b Aplopeltura at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 May 2016.
  3. ^ Duméril (1853). Prodrome de la classification des reptiles ophidiens, page 67.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Jablonski, Daniel. "Death feigning behaviour in Aplopeltura boa". ResearchGate. Natural History Note. Retrieved 27 October 2021.