Biology:Aplopeltura

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Short description: Genus of snakes


Aplopeltura
Aplopeltura boa - Khao Luang National Park.jpg
Aplopeltura boa, Khao Luang National Park.
Scientific classification edit
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]

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]

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

  1. Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 Grismer, L.; Diesmos, A.C.; Gonzalez, J.C.; Jose, R.; Inger, R.F. (2012). "Aplopeltura boa". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) 2012: e.T176342A1440473. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T176342A1440473.en. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/176342/0. Retrieved 27 December 2017. 
  2. Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 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. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69436-7. PMID 32728121. Bibcode2020NatSR..1012670K. 
  5. Jablonski, Daniel. "Death feigning behaviour in Aplopeltura boa". Natural History Note. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305266212. 

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