Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Blunt-headed tree snake

Aplopeltura boa

Heinrich Boie, 1828

In Thai: งูกินทากหัวโหนก, ngu gin taag hua nog

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. It is a small, non-venomous snake. The species can be found in southern Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.

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.

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.

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Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Suborder
Serpentes
Family
Pareatidae
Genus
Aplopeltura
Species
Aplopeltura boa

Common names

  • German: Kurzkopf-Schneckenatter
  • English:
    • Blunt-headed tree snake
    • Blunthead slug snake
  • Thai: งูกินทากหัวโหนก, ngu gin taag hua nog

Synonyms

  • Aplopeltura boa, Van Stanley Bartholomew Wallach et al. (2014)
  • Aplopeltura boa, Merel J. Cox et al. (1998)
  • Aplopeltura boa, Ulrich Manthey & Wolfgang Grossmann (1997)
  • Aplopeltura boa, Alice Georgie Cruickshank Grandison (1978)
  • Haplopeltura boa, Michael Wilmer Forbes Tweedie (1950)
  • Haplopeltura boa, Malcolm Arthur Smith (1943)
  • Haplopeltura boa, Nelly de Rooij (1917)
  • Amblycephalus boa, George Albert Boulenger (1894)
  • Haplopeltura boa, Oskar Boettger (1892)
  • Amblycephalus boa, Albert Charles Lewis Günther (1858)

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Photos

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Aplopeltura boa - Mueang Krabi District
Aplopeltura boa - Mueang Krabi District
Aplopeltura boa - Mueang Krabi District
Aplopeltura boa - Khao Sok National Park
Aplopeltura boa (young) - Khao Luang National Park
Aplopeltura boa (young) - Khao Luang National Park

Range Map

Distribution map of Blunt-headed tree snake, Aplopeltura boa in Thailand
  • Bang Lang National Park
  • Betong District, Yala
  • Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Chong
  • Khao Luang National Park
  • Khao Phra - Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Sok National Park
  • Kui Buri National Park
  • Mueang Krabi District, Krabi
  • Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
  • Si Banphot District, Phatthalung
  • Thale Ban National Park
Range map of Aplopeltura boa in Thailand