Python

? Python
Ball python, Python regius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Subclass: Lepidosauria Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Superfamily: Ophidia Family: Boidae Subfamily: Pythonidae Genus: Python Daudin, 1803
Genera
Aspidites Antaresia Apodora Bothrochilus Leiopython Liasis Morelia Python

Python is the common name for the Boidae family of non-venomous constricting snakes—specifically the subfamily Pythonidae. There is also a genus within Pythonidae which carries the name Python.

Species

Genus Aspidites

• Black-headed Python, Aspidites melanocephalus ( Krefft, 1864)
• Woma Python, Aspidites ramsayi ( Macleay, 1882)

Genus Antaresia

• Children's Python, Antaresia childreni ( Gray, 1842)
• Spotted Python, Antaresia maculosa ( Peters, 1873)
• Pygmy Python, Antaresia perthensis ( Stull, 1932)
• Stimson's Python, Antaresia stimsoni ( Smith, 1985)

Genus Apodora

• Papuan Python, Apodora papuana ( Peters & Doria, 1878)

Genus Bothrochilus

• Bismark Ringed Python, Bothrochilus boa ( Schlegel, 1837)

Genus Leiopython

• D'Albert's Python or White-lipped Python, Leiopython albertisii ( Peters & Doria, 1878)

Genus Liasis

• Brown Water Python, Liasis fuscus
  • Liasis fuscus fuscus ( Peters, 1873)
  • Liasis fuscus jackyae ( Hoser, 2003)
• Liasis mackloti
  • Macklot's Python, Liasis mackloti mackloti ( Duméril & Bibron, 1844)
  • Savu Python, Liasis mackloti savuensis ( Brongersma, 1956)
• Olive Python, Liasis olivaceus
  • Liasis olivaceus olivaceus ( Gray, 1842)
  • Liasis olivaceus barroni ( Smith, 1981)

Genus Morelia

• Amethistine Python, Morelia amethistina ( Schneider, 1801)
• Boelen's Python, Morelia boeleni ( Brongersma, 1953)
• Centralian Carpet Python or Bredl's Python, Morelia bredli ( Gow, 1981)
• Rough-scaled Python, Morelia carinata ( Smith, 1981)
• Mollucan Python, Morelia clastolepis ( Harvey, Barker, Ammerman & Chippindale)
• Australian Scrub Python, Morelia kinghorni ( Stull, 1933)
• Morelia macburniei ( Hoser, 2003)
• Morelia mippughae ( Hoser, 2003)
• Tanimbar Python, Morelia nauta ( Harvey, Barker, Ammerman & Chippindale)
• Oenpelli Python, Morelia oenpelliensis ( G.F. Gow, 1977)
• Carpet Python, Morelia spilota
  • Southwestern Carpet Python, Morelia spilota imbricata ([L.A. Smith|Smith]], 1981)
  • Jungle Carpet Python, Morelia spilota cheynei ( Wells & Wellington, 1985)
  • Morelia spilota macrospila ( Werner, 1910)
  • Coastal Carpet Python, Morelia spilota mcdowelli ( Wells & Wellington, 1985)
  • Diamond Python, Morelia spilota spilota ( La Cépède, 1804)
  • Northwestern Carpet Python, Morelia spilota variegata ( Gray, 1842)
  • Inland Carpet Python, Morelia spilotes metcalfei ( Wells & Wellington, 1985)

• Halmahera Python, Morelia tracyae ( Harvey, Barker, Ammerman & Chippindale)
• Green Tree Python, Morelia viridis
  • Morelia viridis viridis( Schlegel, 1872)
  • Morelia viridis shireenae ( Hoser, 2003)

Genus Python

• Angolan Python, Python anchietae ( Bocage, 1887)
• Short-tailed Python, Python breitensteini ( Steindachner, 1881)
• Red Blood Python, Python brongersmai ( Stull, 1938)
• Blood Python, Python curtus ( Schlegel, 1872)
• Indian Python, Python molurus
  • Python molurus molurus ( Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Burmese Python, Python molurus bivittatus ( Kuhl, 1820)
• South African Python, Python natalensis ( Smith, 1833)
• Ball Python or Royal Python, Python regius ( Shaw, 1802)
• Reticulated Python, Python reticulatus
  • Python reticulatus reticulatus ( Schneider, 1801)
  • Selayer Reticulated Python, Python reticulatus saputrai ( Auliya, 2002)
  • Kayaudi Dwarf Reticulated Python, Python reticulatus jampeanus ( Auliya, 2002)
• African Rock Python, Python sebae ( Gmelin, 1789)
• Timor Python, Python timoriensis ( Peters, 1876)

Geographic range & Habitat

Pythons are found in Australia, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa.

Most pythons live in the dense underbrush of rugged tropical rainforest regions. They are excellent climbers; some species, like the Green Tree Python, are arboreal. Like all snakes, they are also capable swimmers.

Description

Generally pythons range in size from 4.5 to 6 metres (15 to 20 feet) in length. They are among the longest species of snake in the world; according to the Guiness Book of World Records the Reticulated Python holds the record for longest snake, at 10m (32ft 9.5in).

Some species exhibit vestigial bones of the pelvis and rear legs, which are externally apparent in the form of a pair of anal spurs on each side of the cloaca. These spurs are larger in males than females, and are used by the male to stimulate the female during copulation. Pythons are distinguishable from boas in that they have teeth on the premaxilla, a small bone at the very front and center of the upper jaw.

Some pythons display vivid patterns on their scales while others are a nondescript brown. They usually reflect appropriate camouflage for their native habitat.

Behaviour

Pythons are constrictors, and feed on birds and mammals, killing them by literally squeezing them to death. They coil themselves up around their prey, tighten, but merely squeeze hard enough to stop the prey's breathing and/or blood circulation. Large pythons usually would eat something about the size of a house cat, but larger food items are not unknown. They swallow their prey whole, and take several days or even weeks to fully digest it. Despite their intimidating size and muscular power, they are generally not dangerous to humans. While a large adult python could kill a human being (most likely by strangling rather than actual crushing), humans are outside the normal size range for prey. Reports of python attacks on humans are extremely rare. Despite this, pythons have been aggressively hunted, driving some species (like the Indian Python) to the brink of extinction.

Most pythons have heat-sensing organs in their lips. These enable them to detect objects that are hotter than the surrounding environment. Pythons that do not have heat-sensing organs identify their prey by smell. Pythons are ambush predators: they typically stay in a camouflaged position and then suddenly strike at passing prey. They then grasp the prey in their teeth, and kill by constriction. Death is usually a result of suffocation or heart failure rather than crushing. Females protecting their eggs can be aggressive.

Reproduction

Pythons lay eggs which they arrange in a pile. They coil around the pile until all eggs have hatched. Since pythons cannot regulate their internal body temperature, they cannot incubate their eggs per se; instead, they raise the temperature of their eggs by small movements of their body—essentially, they "shiver". This is one of only a few documented cases of parental behaviour in snakes.

In captivity

Most species of python are readily available in the exotic pet trade. Many are frequently captive bred. Difficulty of care and concerns for care, like adult size, vary greatly between species.