| Formosa slug snake | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pareidae |
| Genus: | Pareas |
| Species: | P. formosensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pareas formosensis (Van Denburgh, 1909) | |
| Synonyms | |
Amblycephalus formosensisVan Denburgh, 1909 Contents | |
Formosa slug snake or Taiwan slug snake (Pareas formosensis) is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pareatidae. It is endemic to Taiwan. [2] [3] [4]
It has been suggested that Pareas chinensis should be treated as a synonym of P. formosensis, but recent genetic research does not support this: P. formosensis does not appear closely related to P. chinensis but is instead a sister species to P. hamptoni . [1] [2] The delineation of these species is not clear. In future, P. formosensis might become a subspecies of P. hamptoni, or some snakes from the mainland might be classified as P. formosensis. [5]
Further studies have shown that Pareas komaii is a valid species, instead of being a synonym of P. formosensis. The study also described a new species, Pareas atayal , that have been confused with P. formosensis. Thus, three Pareas species occur in Taiwan. [5]
The Formosa slug snake is a small snake with total length up to 70 cm (28 in). These snakes are widespread in mountainous, moist forests. Formosa slug snakes are nocturnal and feed on land snails and slugs. Female snakes produce a clutch of 2–9 eggs; the hatchlings measure about 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length. [3]
P. formosensis is readily distinguished from P. komaii and P. atayal by its red iris and totally smooth dorsal scales. [5]
The Formosa slug snake occurs throughout the mountain regions of Taiwan, except for the north-eastern tip of the island. [5]
The mountain slug snake, also known as the white-spotted slug snake, is a small, harmless species of snake that is rather common in South, South-East, and East Asia, and feeds on small invertebrates.
The common slug snake, Assam snail eater, Assam snail-eater snake, or montane slug-eating snake is a species of snake found in Northeast India, eastern Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Its type locality is "Naga Hills, Asám" (=Assam), India. It is also reported from north-eastern and south-eastern Bangladesh. The species was first described by Theodore Cantor in 1839.
The smalleye pygmy shark is a little-known species of squaliform shark in the family Dalatiidae, found in water 150–2,000 m (490–6,560 ft) deep near Japan, the Philippines, and Australia. It migrates vertically daily, spending the day in deep water and the night in shallower water. One of the smallest shark species, the smalleye pygmy shark is known to reach only 22 cm (8.7 in) long. It has a blackish, spindle-shaped body with relatively small eyes, and a spine preceding the first dorsal fin, but not the second. Bioluminescent photophores occur on its underside, which may serve to disguise its silhouette from predators. This species feeds on small squid, krill, shrimp, and bony fishes. It is aplacental viviparous. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as Least Concern, citing its wide distribution and lack of threat from fisheries.
The blacktip sawtail catshark is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, found off the coasts of Taiwan and the Philippines. It is demersal in nature and occurs deeper than 60 m (200 ft). Growing up to 46 cm (18 in) long, this slim-bodied species is characterized by its plain brownish dorsal coloration with dark tips on the dorsal and caudal fins, and a prominent crest of enlarged dermal denticles on the upper edge of the caudal fin. It is oviparous, with females producing encapsulated eggs two at a time year-round. The blacktip sawtail catshark is caught incidentally in bottom trawls and used for fishmeal in Taiwan.
Iwasaki's snail-eater is a species of snake in the family Pareidae. The species is endemic to the Yaeyama Islands in the southern Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Pareas is a genus of Asian snakes in the family Pareidae. All species in the genus Pareas are harmless to humans.
The Ussuri mole or large mole, is a species of mammal in the family Talpidae, formerlly treated as a subspecies of the Japanese mole. It is found in China, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia and lives in a long burrow, seldom emerging on the surface of the ground during the day.
The Chinese water snake, Chinese smooth water snake, Chinese mud snake or Chinese rice paddy snake is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake, endemic to Asia.
Trimeresurus gracilis, commonly known as the Taiwan pit viper or Taiwan mountain pitviper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Taiwan. No subspecies are currently recognized. The species is known as kikushi habu in Japanese.
The keeled slug-eating snake is a species of snake in the family Pareidae. It is relatively widespread in Southeast Asia, from southern China (Yunnan) to Burma and Indochina to the Malay Archipelago. Two subspecies are recognized: P. c. carinatus and P. c. unicolor, the latter being confined to Cambodia.
Pareas hamptoni, also known as Hampton's slug snake, is a species of snake in the family Pareidae.
Achalinus niger, common name black odd-scaled snake or black burrowing snake, is a snake in family Xenodermatidae that is endemic to Taiwan.
Achalinus formosanus, common name Formosan odd-scaled snake or Taiwan burrowing snake, is a non-venomous snake in family Xenodermidae that is found in Taiwan and in the southern Ryukyu Islands (Japan).
Boiga kraepelini, commonly known as the square-headed cat snake, Kelung cat snake, or Taiwanese tree snake is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to East Asia and Southeast Asia. Its specific name, kraepelini, honours Karl Kraepelin, a German naturalist. The common name, Kelung cat snake, refers to its type locality, Keelung in northern Taiwan.
Pseudagkistrodon is a monotypic genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. The sole species is Pseudagkistrodon rudis, also known as red keelback, false habu, and false viper. It is found in southwest, south, and east China and in Taiwan. One subspecies, Pseudagkistrodon rudis multiprefrontalisZhao and Jiang 1981 from Sichuan, is recognized, in addition to the nominotypical one.
Sinomicrurus sauteri is a highly venomous species of coral snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Taiwan and known from southern and central Taiwan at elevations of 500–1,500 m (1,600–4,900 ft) above sea level.
Rhabdophis swinhonis is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Taiwan. It is also known commonly as the Taiwan keelback and Swinhoe's grass snake.
Shuanglianpi Wetland is a partially protected natural area in Yilan County in northern Taiwan. Situated 470 meters above sea-level, it contains a botanically rich, shallow lake, which, from the perspective of plant species density, is considered to be a wetland with global significance by the Forestry Bureau of Taiwan.
