Vince_Adam Photography
IMG_5845-1(W) MirkWood Forest Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas lasgalensis)
A cute and docile slug snake by the trail. We set it on a nearby branch and took a few shots. Found this specimen during a night walk/herp in the highlands of Pahang, Malaysia. Two herpers from US joined us that night.
Toxicity: Mildly venomous but no medical significance record on human in Malaysia)
Diet: Snails and slugs. Like all slug snakes, this species has a unique and specialized teeth that allows it to corkscrew the flesh of the snails.
Behavior: Active but non-aggressive.
First described in 2013 by Loredo, Wood, Quah, Anuar, Greer, Ahmad, & Grismer, the Mirkwood Forest Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas lasgalensis) is a close relative of the Mountain Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas vertebralis), with which it was formerly confused.
The most obvious difference between the two species is only apparent in adults: while both species are brownish in colour, adult Asthenodipsas lasgalensis lose the dark banding which is present in juveniles, and which is particularly evident on the lower flanks of Asthenodipsas vertebralis throughout life.
In addition, the venter and labial (lip) scales of the former are white, and in the latter are yellow. The presence or absence of a vertebral stripe also varies between the species, although this feature is less obvious in the field. Finally, it spotted dark red to red-orange eyes.
Etymology: The specific epithet lasgalenensis is derived from the name Eryn Lasgalen which means in the “Wood of Greenleaves” in the fictional Sindarian language from J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings (1955). It was the name used by the Wood Elves for the Mirkwood Forest after its cleansing following the War of the Ring. This name was chosen because Tolkien’s (1955) description of this forest showed great similarity to the cloudy, upland forests within which this species is found.
IMG_5845-1(W) MirkWood Forest Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas lasgalensis)
A cute and docile slug snake by the trail. We set it on a nearby branch and took a few shots. Found this specimen during a night walk/herp in the highlands of Pahang, Malaysia. Two herpers from US joined us that night.
Toxicity: Mildly venomous but no medical significance record on human in Malaysia)
Diet: Snails and slugs. Like all slug snakes, this species has a unique and specialized teeth that allows it to corkscrew the flesh of the snails.
Behavior: Active but non-aggressive.
First described in 2013 by Loredo, Wood, Quah, Anuar, Greer, Ahmad, & Grismer, the Mirkwood Forest Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas lasgalensis) is a close relative of the Mountain Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas vertebralis), with which it was formerly confused.
The most obvious difference between the two species is only apparent in adults: while both species are brownish in colour, adult Asthenodipsas lasgalensis lose the dark banding which is present in juveniles, and which is particularly evident on the lower flanks of Asthenodipsas vertebralis throughout life.
In addition, the venter and labial (lip) scales of the former are white, and in the latter are yellow. The presence or absence of a vertebral stripe also varies between the species, although this feature is less obvious in the field. Finally, it spotted dark red to red-orange eyes.
Etymology: The specific epithet lasgalenensis is derived from the name Eryn Lasgalen which means in the “Wood of Greenleaves” in the fictional Sindarian language from J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings (1955). It was the name used by the Wood Elves for the Mirkwood Forest after its cleansing following the War of the Ring. This name was chosen because Tolkien’s (1955) description of this forest showed great similarity to the cloudy, upland forests within which this species is found.