食性探討能幫助我們勾勒出一個物種在生態系中所扮演的角色，以及和其他物種間的能量傳遞，是生態研究中重要且基礎的一環，然而亞洲鈍頭蛇亞科（Pareatinae）的蛇類，缺乏探討食性的文獻。本研究欲探究分類地位屬於該亞科的台灣鈍頭蛇，我以2005年5月~2006年5月採集自台灣北部之台灣鈍頭蛇，利用實驗室內餵養的方式，在黑暗中測試台灣鈍頭蛇的食物類別、捕食行為以及蛇大小與獵物體型大小之關係。
結果顯示：（1）五種測試食物，只有腹足綱動物才能引起台灣鈍頭蛇的攻擊（p<0.001,N=15）﹔（2）台灣鈍頭蛇對於水棲性的前鰓類及有肺類蝸牛，攻擊率皆低。遭遇陸棲性蝸牛時，蛇對有肺類的攻擊率顯著大於對前鰓類。且蛇攻擊蝸牛腹足後方的捕食成功率大於從蝸牛前方。（3）蝸牛殼口附近若有阻礙物，則會明顯降低台灣鈍頭蛇的捕食成功率（p<0.05,N=16）。（4）台灣鈍頭蛇捕食斯文豪氏大蝸牛之相對重量比的上限範圍為0.16~0.47（N=15），蛇的頭寬與蝸牛殼口寬兩者呈顯著正相關（p<0.0001），另外頭寬和相對重量比的上限（最大蝸牛重/蛇重）亦呈正相關（p<0.01）。相較於雄蛇，雌蛇能捕食較大的獵物，但兩者的相對重量比之上限沒有顯著差異（1<p<0.05）。（5）台灣鈍頭蛇捕食斯文豪氏大蝸牛之相對重量比的下限範圍為0.013~0.047（N=11），蛇的頭寬與被捕食蝸牛的殼口寬並無顯著相關（ｐ>0.9），其吻端長度（上顎長-下顎長）與被捕食蝸牛的腹足尾部長也無顯著相關（ｐ>0.5）。雄蛇與雌蛇所能處理的相對下限比（最小蝸牛重/蛇重）沒顯著差異（p>0.05），意即雌蛇與雄蛇捕食小蝸牛的能力沒有顯著的不同。

Animal dieterial information gathering is necessary during the process of getting further understanding of them. And this kind of baseline data is not only useful for researchers to know more aobut animals, but also needed when researchers want to know the roles they play in the ecosystem.
However, the Pareatinae snakes is in lack of related literatures focused to their diet and foraging behavior as well. Taiwan slug snake (Pareas formosensis), the only Pareatinae snake in Taiwan, is in similar situation. This study is conducted between May 2005 and May 2006, all the Taiwan slug snakes for the tests in the study was collected at North Taiwan. In the condition of totally darkness, tested individuals were provided with food of different items and characteristics.
And we found:（1）. Among 5 food items we provided, only gastropoda will initiate snakes’ attacking behavior. （2）Very low attacking rate was found when aquatic pulmonate and prosobranchia snail offered, and higher successful foraging was found when snake attacking from the posterior part of their preys. （3）Obstacle at the snail aperture will hampered snakes’ attcking. （4）When the snail weight is divided by the snake consuming it, mass ratio, upper limit range snakes preyed is 0.16~0.47. And the head width of snakes are significant positive correlation with head width of snails (p<0.0001), and with upper limit of mass ratio of snail to snake (p<0.01). Female snakes could ingest larger snails than male ones can, but the upper limit of mass ratios they can ingest are not significant difference.（5）The lower limit range of the mass ratio of the snails (Nesiohelix swinhoei) to the snakes is 0.013~0.047 (N=11).There is not significant correlation with head width of snake and aperture width of snail (Nesiohelix swinhoei) (p>0.9). The lower limit of mass ratios of ingested snails to snakes are not significant difference between males and females (p>0.05).

李彥錚、陳文德。2003。蝸牛。親親文化出版社。台北。
趙爾密、江耀明。1998。拉漢英兩棲爬行動物名稱。科學出版社。北京。
顏月珠。1992。無母數統計方法。台灣大學。台北。
呂光洋、杜銘章和向高世。1999。台灣兩棲爬行動物圖鑑。中華民國自然生態保育學會大自然雜誌社。台北。
杜銘章。2004。蛇類大驚奇。遠流出版社。台北市。
謝伯娟。2003。。台灣蝸牛圖鑑。行政院農委會。台北市。
謝伯娟。2004。蝸牛不思議。遠流出版社。台北市。
蘇合成。2005。台灣鈍頭蛇對蛞蝓黏液痕跡追蹤之探討。國立台灣師範大學生命科學系碩士論文。台北。
Arnold, S. J. 1993. Foraging theory and prey-size-predator-size relations in snake. Snake:ecology and behavior. McGraw-Hill. New York.
Ashton, K. G.. 2002. Headfirst ingestion of prey by rattlesnakes:Are tactile cues used? Journal of Herpetology. 36:500-502.
Bizerra, A., O. A. V. Margues and I. Sazima. 2005. Reproduction and feeding of the colubrid snake Tomodon dorsatus from south-eastern Brazil. Amphibia-Reptilia 26:33-38.
Chandler, C. R.and P. J.Tolson. 1990.Habitat use by a boid snake,Epicrates Monensis,and its anoline prey,Anolis Cristatellis. Journal of Herpetology 24:151-157.
Cobb, V. A. 2004. Diet and prey size of Flathead Snake,Tantilla gracilis. Copeia 2:397-402.
Cudall,D. 1987. Functional Morphology. Snake:ecology and evolutionary biology. Macmilian Publishing Company, New Yourk.p107-134.
Cudall, D. 1983. Activity of head muscles during feeding by snakes:a comparative study. Amer. Zool. 23:383-396.
Cundall, D. and Greene. 2000.Feeding in snake. Feeding: form,function,and evolution in tetrapod vertebrates. Academic Press,San Diego.p293-333.
Downes, S. and R. Shine. 1998. Sedentary snakes and gullible geckos:Predator-prey coevolution in nocturnal rock-dwelling reptiles. Animal behaviour 55:1373-1385.
Dunn, E. R. 1951. The status of the snake genera Dipsas and Sibon,a problem for “quantum evolution.”Evolution 5:355-358.
Drummond, H. and M. Garcia. 1995. Congenital responsiveness of gater snakes to a dangerous prey abolished by learning. Anim. Behav. 49:891-900.
Gans, C. 1961. The feeding mechanism of snake and its possible evolution. Am. Zoologist 1:217-227.
Gans, C. 1972. Feeding in Dipsas indica and Dunn’s paradox. Am.Zool. 12:723.
Gans, C. 1983. Snake feeding strategies and adaption-conclusion and prognosis. Amer. Zool. 23:455-460.
Greene, H. W. 1976. Scale overlop,a directional sign stimulus for prey ingestion by ophiophagous snakes. Z. Tierpsychol. 41:113-120.
Green, H. W. 1997. Diet and feeding. Snakes:the evolution of mystery in nature. University of California. Berkeley. Los Angeles. London.
Greene, H. W. and J. A. Rodriguez-Robles.2003. Feeding ecology of California mountain kingsnake,Lampropeltis zonata（Colubridae）. Copeia 2:308-314.
Gregory, P. T. and L. A. Isaac. 2004. Food habits of the grass sanke in Southeastern England：Is Natrix natrix a generalist predator? Journal of Herpetology 38（1）：88-95.
Gotz, M. 2001. Die Schneckennatter Pareas carinatus Wagler,1983- Terrarienhaltung, Beutefangverhalten und Zucht.Salamangra,Rheinbach 37（1）:49-58.
Gotz, M. 2002. The feeding behavior of snail-eating snake Pareas carinatus Wafler 1830（Squamata：Colubridae）. Amphibia-Reptilta 23:487-493.
Henderson, R. W., A. Schwartz and T. A. Noseke-Hallin. 1987. Food habirs of three colubrid tree snakes（genus Uromacer）on Hispaniola,Herpetological 43:241-248.
Henderson, R. W., T. A. Noseke-Hallin, B. I. Crother, and A. Schwartz. 1988. The diets of hispaniolan colubrid snake.Ⅱ. Prey species, prey size, and phylogeny. Herpetologica 44:55-70.
Hirata, T. and H. Ota.1993. Preadation on snails by the Pareatine snake Pareas iwasaki. Japanse Journal of Herpetology.90-91.
Hoso, M. 2007. Oviposition and Hatchling Diet of a Snail-eating Snake Pareas iwasakii (Colubridae: Pareatinae). Current Herptology 26:41-43.
Hoso, M., T. Asami, and M. Hori. 2006. Right-handed snakes:convergent evolution of asymmetry for functional specialization. Biology letters:1-4.
Hoso, M. and M. Hori. 2006. Identification of Molluscan prey from feces of Iwasaki‘s slug snake,Pareas iwasakii. Herpetological review. 37（2）:174-176.
Javier, A. R-R, D. G. Mulcahy ,and H. W.Greene, 1999. Feeding ecology of the desert nightsnake Hypsiglwna torquata. Copeia :93-100.
Kalbe. M., B. Haberl and W. Hass. 1997. Snail-host finding by Fasciola hepatica and Trichobilharzia ocellata: Compound analysis of “Miracidia-attracting glycoproteins”. Experimental Parasitology 96（4）:231-242.
Klein ,J. 1975. Headfirst prey ingestion by newborn Elaphe and Lampropeltis. Copeia:366
Kofron, C. P. 1982. A review of the Mexican snail-eating snakes,Dipsas brevifacies and Dipsas gaigeae. Journal of Herpetology.16 : 270-286.
Kofron, C.P. 1985. Systematics of the Neotropical gastropod-eating snake genera,Tropidodipsas and Sibon.Journal of Herpetology 19（1）: 84-92.
Kofron,C. P. 1990. Female reproductive cycle of the African snail-eating snake,Duberria Lutrix. Amphibia-Reptilia 11:15-21.
Laporta-Ferreira, I. L. and M. D.G. Salomao. 1991. Morphology,physiology and toxicology of the oral glands of a tropical cochleophagous snake, Sibynomorphus neuwiedi（Colubridae-Dipsadinae）. Zool. Anz. 227:
198-208.
Laporta-Ferreira, I. L.,and M. G. Salomão. Reptilian predators of terrestrial gastropods. Nature enemies of terrestrial molluscs. CABI publishing. Page:427-449.
Lee, W. J. and K.Y. Lue 1996. The preliminary study on the food habits of snakes in Taiwan. Biol. Bull. NTNU 31:119-124.
Mertens, R. 1952. On snail-eating snake. Copeia 4:279.
Mori, A. 1998. Prey-handling behavior of three species of homalopine snake:Features associated with piscivory and Duvernoy’s glands.Journal of Herpetology 32（1）:40-50.
Mushinsky, H. R. 1987. Foraging Ecology. Smake:ecology and evolutionary biology. Macmillan Publishing Co. New York.
Ota, H., J. T. Lin, T. Hirata and S. L.Chen. 1997 . Systemic review of colubrid snake of the genus Pareas in the East Asia Island. J. Herpetol. 31:79-87.
Pough, F. H. and J. D. Grove. 1983. Specialization of the body form and food habits of snakes. Amer. Zool. 23:443-454.
Rao, D. Q. and D. T. Yang. 1992. Phylogentic systematics of Pareinae（serpents）of sourtheastern Asia and adjacent islands with relationship between it and the geology changes. Acta Zoologica Sinica.38:139-149.
Rodríguez-Robles, J. A. 2002. Feeding ecology of North American gopher snakes(Pituophis catenifer,Colubridae). Biological Journal of The Linnean Society 77:165-183.
Rossman, D. A. and P. A. Myer. 1990. Behavioral and morphological adaptions for snail extraction on the North American Brown Snakes(Genus Storeria)
. J. Herpetol. 24:434-438.
Savitzky, A. H. 1983. Coadapted character complexes among snake: fossoriality, piscivory, and durophagy. Amer. Zool. 23:397-409.
Sazima, I. 1989. Feeding behavior of the snail-eating snake, Dipsas indica. Journal of Herpetology. 23(4):464-468.
Salomao, M. D. G and I. L. Laporta-Ferreira. 1994. The role of secretions from the supralabial, infralabial, and Duvernoy’s gland of slug-eating snake sibynomorphus milani（Colubridae:Dipsadinae）in the immobilization of molluscan prey. J.Herp. 28:369-371.
Slip, D. J., and R. Shine. 1988. Feeding habits of the diamond python, Morelia s. spilota: ambush predation by a boid snake. Journal of Herpetology 22:323-330.
Seib, R. L. 1984. Prey use in three syntopic neotropical racers. Journal of Herpetology 18: 412-420.
Shine, R. 1977. Habitats, diets and sympatry in snakes: a study from Australia. Canadian Journal of Zoology 55:1118-1128.
Shine, R. 1986. Natural history of two monotypic snake genera of southwestern Australia, Elapognathus and Rhinoplocephalus (Elapidae). Journal of Herpetology 20:436-439.
Shine, R. 1987. Ecological ramifications of prey size: food habits and reproductive biology of Australian copperhead snakes (Austrelaps, Elapidae). Journal of Herpetology 21:21-28.
Shine, R. 1991. Intersexual dietary divergence and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in sanke. The American Naturalist 138(1):103-122.
Shine, R. 1994. Sexual size dimorphism in snakes revisited. Copeia 1994:326-346.
Shine, R. and L. Sun. 2003. Attack strategy of ambush predator: Which attributes of the prey trigger a pit-viper’s strike? Functional Ecology 17:340-348.
Smith, T. L., G.. D. E. Povel,and V. Kardong, 2001. Predatory strike of the tentacled snake(Erpeton tentaculatum).J. Zoologist : 233-242.
Tucker, J. R. 1994. Clonophis kirtlandii(Kirtland’s snake):subterranean prey capature. Herp. Rev. 25:122-123.
Wallach, V. 1995. Revalidation of the genus Tropidodipsas Gunther,with notes on the Dipsadini and Nothopsini(Serpentes:Colubridae). J. herpeto.29:476-481.
Voris, H. K., H. H. Voris and L.B. Liat,1978, The food and feeding behavior of a marine snake,Enhydrian schistosa(Hydrophiidae).Copeia.1:134-146.
Voris, H. K. and M. W. Moffett. 1981. Size and proportion relationship between the beaked sea snake and its prey. Biotropica 13:15-29.
Zar, J. H. 1999. Biostatistical Analysis. 4th. Prentice-Hall. New Jersey.
Zebal, C. J., K. McKelvey, and J. P. Ward, Jr. 1995. Influence of primary prey on home-range size and habitat-use patterns of northern spotted owls（Strix occidentalis caurina）. Can. J. Zool. 73:433-439.
Zweifel, R.D. 1954. Adaption to feeding in the snake Contia tenuis. Copeia 4:299-300.