Common slug eater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common slug eater |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Duberria
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| Species: |
lutrix
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The common slug eater (scientific name: Duberria lutrix) is a small, non-venomous snake. It is found only in Africa. This snake is special because it gives birth to live young. It does not lay eggs. As its name suggests, it mainly eats slugs and snails.
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What Does the Slug Eater Look Like?
These snakes are quite small. Adult common slug eaters can grow up to about thirty to forty centimeters long. This is roughly twelve to sixteen inches.
Their colors can be different. Most often, they have an olive green, brown, or reddish-brown back. Their sides are usually grey. The belly is yellowish or cream. They also have a black stripe down their back. This stripe can be more or less complete.
Where Do Slug Eaters Live?
This snake species is found in many parts of Africa. You can find them in countries like Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Eswatini. They also live in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique. Other places include Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
What Do Slug Eaters Eat?
The common slug eater is a very picky eater. It only eats snails and slugs. It finds its food mostly by using its tongue. This is how it "smells" its surroundings. This sense is called chemoreception.
When it catches a snail or slug, it swallows it very quickly. This helps it avoid too much slimy mucus from the prey. If it catches a snail, it has clever ways to get it out of its shell. It might pull the snail out through the shell's opening. Or, it might smash the shell against a rock. While doing this, it holds onto the soft body of the snail.
How Do Slug Eaters Have Babies?
Common slug eaters usually give birth to three to twelve young snakes at a time. However, very large female snakes can have even more. Some big females can have as many as 22 babies.
Each newborn snake is small, about eight to eleven centimeters long. This is about three to four inches. The total weight of all the babies can sometimes be more than the mother's weight after she gives birth! In southern Africa, the birthing season is usually in January and February. This is late summer there.
Can You Keep a Slug Eater as a Pet?
Yes, the common slug eater is a popular pet. They are easy to care for because they readily eat and breed. Since their food is slugs and snails, it is simple to find what they need to eat.
How Do Slug Eaters Defend Themselves?
When this snake feels scared or threatened, it has a special way to protect itself. It can release a bad-smelling liquid from glands near its tail. Then, it rolls up into a tight spiral. Its head is tucked safely in the middle of this spiral.
Because of this behavior, people in South Africa call it tabakrolletjie. This Afrikaans name means "tobacco roll."
