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Pythonidae

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Python
Ball python, Python regius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Reptilia
Subclass:
Lepidosauria
Order:
Squamata
Suborder:
Serpentes
Superfamily:
Henophidia
Family:
Pythonidae
Genera

Aspidites
Antaresia
Apodora
Bothrochilus
Leiopython
Liasis
Morelia
Python

Python is the common name for a group of non-venomous constricting snakes, specifically the family Pythonidae. Other sources consider this group a subfamily of the Boas (Pythoninae). Pythons are more related to boas than to any other snake-family. There is also a genus within Pythonidae which carries the name Python (Daudin, 1803). 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. Most boas produce live young, while pythons produce eggs. Some species of sandboas (Ericinae) are also called python.

Geographic range and habitat

Pythons are found in Australia, Southeast Asia 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

Pythons range in size from 1 to 6 metres (3 to 20 feet) in length. Some pythons are among the longest species of snakes in the world; the Reticulated Python holds the record for longest snake, at 10.32 m (32 ft 9.5 in).[1] However the largest snakes that ever lived are the Paleocene Giagantophis garstini and Madtsoia. Both of these gargantuan snakes could grow to be at least 50 feet long.

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.

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

There has been a report[2] [3] of a python 49 feet (14.85 m) long found on Java in Indonesia, but there has been doubt about that claim.

Behaviour

Pythons are constrictors, and feed on birds and mammals, killing them by 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 will usually eat something about the size of a house cat, but larger food items are not unknown (some large Asian species have been known to take down adult Deer, and the African Rock Python has been documented preying upon Gazelle). 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.

White-lipped Python Leiopython albertisii

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. Pythons will not usually attack humans unless startled or provoked, although 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. They can live up to 35 years of age.

Most species of python are available in the exotic pet trade.

The larger species such as the Burmese python and Reticulated Python can be dangerous. Owners, especially inexperienced owners, need to exercise caution with these species. Cases of large pet pythons killing their owners have been documented.[4]

The Everglades National Park has had an invasive population of Burmese Pythons since the late 1990's that have caused harm to the natural environment of the Everglades. More than 300 have been removed. The snakes are not native to the south Floridian marshlands. They have been deposited there by pet owners who no longer wish to care for them and also did not want to euthanize them. Scientists believe that the pythons are a grave threat to nearly every species of animal in the Everglades, even alligators. There have been several accounts of python vs. alligator encounters there, including one in the fall of 2005 between a 13 foot (4 m) python and a six foot (1.8 m) gator that proved fatal for both. The two were found with the gator's body protruding from the snakes torn open stomach.[5][6]

http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2005/10/06/mn_gator_python_19y45.jpg

Species

Genus Aspidites

Genus Antaresia

Genus Apodora

Genus Bothrochilus

Genus Leiopython

Genus Liasis

Carpet Python, Morelia spilota

Genus Morelia

Green Tree Python, Morelia viridis

Genus Python

File:Python breitensteini .jpg
Borneo Short-tailed Python, Python breitensteini

References

  1. ^ http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=51013
  2. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3354403.stm
  3. ^ http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/bigsnake.asp
  4. ^ http://www.anapsid.org/coloburm.html
  5. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/12/18/python.detectives.ap/index.html
  6. ^ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0603_040603_invasivespecies_2.html

Sources

Wikispecies has information related to Pythonidae.
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