The white-spotted slug snake

A white-spotted slug snake is seen in the Wutong Mountain in Luohu District in June. Photos by Isaac Cohen

The white-spotted slug snake

One of the most common snakes you can find during the night hours in Shenzhen, although not easy to spot due to its small size, is the white-spotted slug snake (Pareas margaritophorus). Measuring only 20 to 30 centimeters in length on average, slug snakes can inadvertently escape the naked human eye.

横斑钝头蛇是深圳最常见的夜行性蛇类之一，但是因为体型很小，所以肉眼其实很难察觉。这种蛇平均体长仅20至30厘米，只要一不留神，它们就会立刻逃之夭夭，很难再寻踪迹。

White-spotted slug snakes display a dark grey color decorated with scattered black and white spots over the entirety of their body. However, the underbelly of the animal is white and the black spots there are less prominent. Its head is clearly rounded and naturally engineered for the hunting of slugs and snails, with long teeth that help to pull snails out of their shells. The eyes are big and rounded; the neck is not thin enough to present a differentiated head-body separation.

横斑钝头蛇体色深灰，杂以黑白各半的鳞片，远看仿佛斑点，而这些黑白的“斑点”及至腹部颜色便逐渐变淡，露出苍白的皮肤。由于这种蛇类主要以蛞蝓及蜗牛为食，因此有着圆钝的头部和构造特殊的牙齿，能够直接把蜗牛从壳里掏出来一口吃下。它们的眼睛又大又圆，颈部和头部之间没有明显的分界。

A white-spotted slug snake is seen in the Wutong Mountain in Luohu District in June.

These fascinating reptiles are nocturnal and their movement is relatively slow. With a preference for humid ecosystems where they can easily find slugs and other prey, these snakes are limited to the land and are not seen in the water.

横斑钝头蛇昼伏夜出，行动迟缓，喜好阴暗潮湿并有蜗牛和蛞蝓大量出没的环境。它们属陆栖性蛇类，不会游泳。

Slug snakes are not venomous and definitely are not aggressive animals. They seldom attempt biting. If bothered or handled, their primary reaction will be to twist their body in squirming movements or to coil their body in order to protect their head.

横斑钝头蛇是一种性情温顺的无毒蛇，极少主动攻击人。即便是被惊扰甚至攫获，也只会不断挣扎，或将身体蜷缩起来试图保护头部。

A white-spotted slug snake is seen in the Wutong Mountain in Luohu District in June.

These beautiful animals play an important role in controlling snail populations in our city and its population is at the same time controlled by other snake species that may feed on them, so slug snakes set an amazing example of what a healthy ecosystem should look like. It is our job to keep preserving every single species of animal that inhabits our city, for the benefit of our future generations.

横斑钝头蛇的存在是生态系统健康、平衡的重要指标之一，既控制了蜗牛的数量，同时它们自己的数量也被其他的捕食者所控制。所以为了我们的后代着想，我们从现在起更要保护好生活在这座城市里的每一个物种，保护好它们繁衍生息的家园。

A white-spotted slug snake is seen in the Wutong Mountain in Luohu District in June.