Family : PAREIDAE
Species : Pareas nuchalis
Maximum Size : 71.5 cm (Das, 2010)

Pareas nuchalis is endemic to the island of Borneo, and is known to occur in the Indonesian territory of Kalimantan, and the Malaysian territory of Sarawak (see Reptile Database). The iNaturalist website includes a sighting location in western Brunei.

This snake inhabits lowland and hill forest to around 1000 metres elevation (the example shown here was found at this elevation).

It is partly arboreal and is often found on low shrubs up to 2 metres above the forest floor. It feeds on snails and slugs. (Das, 2010).

Reptile Database summarizes the colour and patterning of this species as follows:
Dorsum tan to light brown with weak dark-brown vertebral spots and 61-78 distinct transverse dark-brown bands; upper postorbital stripes thick, black, bifurcating posterior to the secondary temporals, forming a vertical black bar to the mouth angle; upper postorbital stripes contacting each other on the nuchal area forming a large black ring-shaped blotch; lower postorbital stripes thick, black, often continuing to the lower jaw and chin; belly yellowish immaculate or with sparse brown dusting; iris whitish with brownish speckles and veins getting denser around the pupil (Boulenger, 1900; Stuebing, Inger & Lardner, 2014).

Fig 1 : Example found on low shrubs in the highlands region of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo at around 1000 metres elevation. 

Figs 2 and 3 : Hill and lower montane forest in the highlands region of Malaysian Borneo.

All photos thanks to Sankar Ananthanarayanan.


References and links :

Boulenger, G.A. 1900. Description of new reptiles and batrachians from Bomeo. Proc. Zool. Soc. London: 182-187.

Das, I., 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.

Stuebing, R.B., Inger, R.F. & Lardner, B. 2014. A field guide to the snakes of Borneo, second edition. Natural history Publications (Borneo)

Reptile Database - Pareas nuchalis

©  Sankar Ananthanarayanan