Slug Snakes

Slug snakes are an arboreal genus of slug-eating snakes with a blocky head shape and special lower jaw that has teeth positioned anteriorly. This unique morphology enables them to extricate slugs and snails from their shells, their primary prey although they will prey on small snails as well. Slug snakes occur through Southeast Asia in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Borneo in a wide range of rainforests and hilly habitats. In Peninsular Malaysia, there are five species from this genera that can be found.

Nocturnal in nature, slug snakes will craw through bushes and shrubs in search of slugs and snails. Once it detects prey, the slug snake will latch on quickly on the snail or slug's exposed bit. If the slug has withdrawn too deeply inside the shell, the slug snake will slide its lower jaw in while its upper jaw clamps on the shell. The lower jaws will then hook the flesh of the snail and extricate it slowly. Slug snakes are also generally very slow-moving and docile in temperament.