HOME | DD

Description

Species Name: Reticulated Python

Species Latin Name: Malayopython reticulatus

Native To: South and Southeast Asia

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Photo Taken At: Ballarat Wildlife Park

Size (length): 1.5 – 6.5 meters (4.9 – 21.3 feet)

Weight: 1-75 kg (2.2 – 165.4 pounds)

Lifespan: 15-29 years

Diet: Carnivore

Lifestyle: Terrestial, ambush predator, precocial, oviparous

Group Name: Den, nest, pit, bed, knot

Female Name: Female

Male Name: Male

Baby Name: Snakelet, hatchling, neonate, baby snake

Mating Behaviour: Polyandry

Reproductive Season: February – March

Eggs Per Clutch: 8-107 eggs

Gestation Period: 60 – 90 days

Incubation Period: 88 days

Independent Age: At birth

Age of Sexual Maturity: 2-5 years

Sup Species:

Asiatic Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus Reticulatus)

Kayaudi Reticulated Python or Tanahjampean Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus Auliya) located on Tanahjampea in the Selayar Archipelago south of Sulawesi

Selayer Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus Saputrai) located on Selayar Island in the Selayar Archipelago and also in adjacent Sulawesi.

Description:

The Reticulated Python is described as the world's longest snake as well as one of the three heaviest snakes in the world. The largest recorded python of this species was 6.95 meters (22 feet) and weighed 59kg (130 pounds) although, it is quite rare for this species to reach this size as they generally range between 1.5 to 6.5 meters (4.9 – 21.3 feet) in length.

The scales of the Reticulated Python is made up of various complex geometric patterns that use a variety of different colours, the most common colours used are olive green, black, white, tan, yellow, gold, and brown. Whilst the pattern and the colouration of their scales may not appear suitable for camouflage at first glance, in a shadowy jungle environment amid fallen leaves and other debris the pattern of their scales allows them to virtually disappear. The females of this species tend to grow larger than the males.

Diet:

These pythons are ambush predators and whilst they are not very fast movers on land they are exceptional swimmers, the Reticulated Python will spend a lot of time in the water waiting for prey animals to get in range for them to strike likely when the prey animal goes to get a drink. Like other python species the Reticulated Python lacks any venom, instead this snake relies on a very strong bite to latch onto their prey, they will then coil around their prey constricting them to death using their strong muscles. It is rare that these snakes will attack people although some cases have been reported of this snake attacking people, it is indicated that at least two people are needed to pry apart a Reticulated Python from a person. Once the python starts to eat its prey they rely on teeth inside their body that point backwards to prevent their prey from escaping once swallowed.

Naturally in the wild the Reticulated Python will eat from a variety of mammals that can vary from small to large in size as well as birds. These pythons will eat rats, other rodents, mouse-eared bats, treeshrews, Small Indian Civets (Viverricula indica), Binturong (Arctictis binturong), primates, pigs, and deer. When these animals are located closer to human settlements there are cases where they will feed on chickens, cats, and dogs on the odd ocassion, in rarer cases they may target humans as well. Generally these pythons are capable of swallowing prey that are one-quarter its length and prey that is as heavy as the python itself. The largest documented case recorded for a Reticulated Python was a half-starved Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) weighing 23kg (50 pounds) which took about 10 weeks to digest.

Behaviour:

These snakes are not able to hear and their sense of vision is quite poor, they rely on their sense of smell to connect with other snakes. Reticulated Pythons apply pheromones to the forest soil as they move, other snakes will come across these chemicals and initiate mating or sense another male's presence as a threat. Generally these pythons like many other species of snake are solitary in nature and will generally only interact with other pythons to mate or deal with a rival male. These pythons use an ossicle organ called columella to detect vibrations in the ground as a means of communication for mating purposes as well as to give warning to rival males. They are mostly active during the night and will typically be seen in bodies of water or on the ground waiting to ambush their prey, whilst the adults are rarely seen in trees it is not uncommon to see juvenile Reticulated Pythons in the trees as well as on the ground.

These pythons have a polyandrous mating system where the male will likely end up mating with multiple females if successful. Mating season will occur between the months of February and March. During this time the male will use vibrations in his body to signal his mating status to a nearby female, the female will then decide whether she will want to mate with the male. If the female does decide to mate he will rub his on top of her, when the female is ready she will lift her tail and mating will then begin. A female Reticulated python is capable of storing the sperm from mating to use at a later date if the current climate conditions prove to be unsuitable for laying eggs. A female of this species is known to at times to mate with multiple males per season. on the other scale of the spectrum there are recorded cases of the female reproducing asexually with offspring with the exact same DNA as her own, this behaviour is rare and is used as an adaption for cases where no males are present during mating season.

For reproduction to be successful the area of mating and egg laying will need to be an area rich in prey animals, it is also important that the area is mostly uninhabited and undisturbed by humans or other predators. If prey is rather abundant in the area of mating the female can produce one clutch per year, in areas where prey is not so readily available she may produce a clutch once every 2 to 3 years. Per clutch a female will lay as little as 8 eggs to as many as 107 eggs, the viability of all these eggs will depend on the mother who will defend and incubate them for around 88 days. The optimal temperature for these eggs to be incubated at is 31-32c (88 – 90f), the young are independent at the age of birth and will reach reproductive maturity in the first 2-5 years of age.

Threats:

Due to the large size of these snakes there are virtually no predators for the adults of this species, the exception to this is that they are hunted by humans for their skin, for food, for use in traditional medicine, and they are also captured by humans for sale as a pet. The young and eggs of this species are subject to predation, the eggs are particularly vulnerable which is why they are protected by the mother until they hatch. The eggs and young snakes are subject to be preyed on by hawks, eagles, herons, and small mammals. Whilst it is rare for an adult of this species to be preyed upon there are cases where they may be preyed upon by crocodiles as well as other large predators.

Although these snakes do have a tendency to hang around human habitats it seems quite rare for these animals to go out of their way to attack humans. They are even in some cases seen to be as a benefit to human habitation as these pythons help control the population of rodent species which they prey upon. Though these animals are considered relatively docile in nature they are known to be quite aggressive if they feel like they are threatened and will hiss as a warning before attacking to protect themselves. Their bites are not considered too dangerous although there is a risk of the bite from a Reticulated Python becoming infected. In a domesticated setting it is recommended that only experienced snake handlers take responsibility for such an animal, whilst it may seem docile at first these animals will bite and possibly constrict if they feel threatened or if they mistake a hand or arm as food.

Despite these animals being targeted for hunting by humans for various uses it does appear that they are currently listed as a least concern species. With relatively few predators in the wild and the large clutch size per mating season there is a decent likelihood that this species of python will continue to thrive.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticula…

Animal Diversity: animaldiversity.org/accounts/P…

Kidadl: kidadl.com/animal-facts/reticu…

Animalia: animalia.bio/reticulated-pytho…

Description

Species Name: Reticulated Python

Species Latin Name: Malayopython reticulatus

Native To: South and Southeast Asia

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Photo Taken At: Ballarat Wildlife Park

Size (length): 1.5 – 6.5 meters (4.9 – 21.3 feet)

Weight: 1-75 kg (2.2 – 165.4 pounds)

Lifespan: 15-29 years

Diet: Carnivore

Lifestyle: Terrestial, ambush predator, precocial, oviparous

Group Name: Den, nest, pit, bed, knot

Female Name: Female

Male Name: Male

Baby Name: Snakelet, hatchling, neonate, baby snake

Mating Behaviour: Polyandry

Reproductive Season: February – March

Eggs Per Clutch: 8-107 eggs

Gestation Period: 60 – 90 days

Incubation Period: 88 days

Independent Age: At birth

Age of Sexual Maturity: 2-5 years

Sup Species:

Asiatic Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus Reticulatus)

Kayaudi Reticulated Python or Tanahjampean Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus Auliya) located on Tanahjampea in the Selayar Archipelago south of Sulawesi

Selayer Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus Saputrai) located on Selayar Island in the Selayar Archipelago and also in adjacent Sulawesi.

Description:

The Reticulated Python is described as the world's longest snake as well as one of the three heaviest snakes in the world. The largest recorded python of this species was 6.95 meters (22 feet) and weighed 59kg (130 pounds) although, it is quite rare for this species to reach this size as they generally range between 1.5 to 6.5 meters (4.9 – 21.3 feet) in length.

The scales of the Reticulated Python is made up of various complex geometric patterns that use a variety of different colours, the most common colours used are olive green, black, white, tan, yellow, gold, and brown. Whilst the pattern and the colouration of their scales may not appear suitable for camouflage at first glance, in a shadowy jungle environment amid fallen leaves and other debris the pattern of their scales allows them to virtually disappear. The females of this species tend to grow larger than the males.

Diet:

These pythons are ambush predators and whilst they are not very fast movers on land they are exceptional swimmers, the Reticulated Python will spend a lot of time in the water waiting for prey animals to get in range for them to strike likely when the prey animal goes to get a drink. Like other python species the Reticulated Python lacks any venom, instead this snake relies on a very strong bite to latch onto their prey, they will then coil around their prey constricting them to death using their strong muscles. It is rare that these snakes will attack people although some cases have been reported of this snake attacking people, it is indicated that at least two people are needed to pry apart a Reticulated Python from a person. Once the python starts to eat its prey they rely on teeth inside their body that point backwards to prevent their prey from escaping once swallowed.

Naturally in the wild the Reticulated Python will eat from a variety of mammals that can vary from small to large in size as well as birds. These pythons will eat rats, other rodents, mouse-eared bats, treeshrews, Small Indian Civets (Viverricula indica), Binturong (Arctictis binturong), primates, pigs, and deer. When these animals are located closer to human settlements there are cases where they will feed on chickens, cats, and dogs on the odd ocassion, in rarer cases they may target humans as well. Generally these pythons are capable of swallowing prey that are one-quarter its length and prey that is as heavy as the python itself. The largest documented case recorded for a Reticulated Python was a half-starved Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) weighing 23kg (50 pounds) which took about 10 weeks to digest.

Behaviour:

These snakes are not able to hear and their sense of vision is quite poor, they rely on their sense of smell to connect with other snakes. Reticulated Pythons apply pheromones to the forest soil as they move, other snakes will come across these chemicals and initiate mating or sense another male's presence as a threat. Generally these pythons like many other species of snake are solitary in nature and will generally only interact with other pythons to mate or deal with a rival male. These pythons use an ossicle organ called columella to detect vibrations in the ground as a means of communication for mating purposes as well as to give warning to rival males. They are mostly active during the night and will typically be seen in bodies of water or on the ground waiting to ambush their prey, whilst the adults are rarely seen in trees it is not uncommon to see juvenile Reticulated Pythons in the trees as well as on the ground.

These pythons have a polyandrous mating system where the male will likely end up mating with multiple females if successful. Mating season will occur between the months of February and March. During this time the male will use vibrations in his body to signal his mating status to a nearby female, the female will then decide whether she will want to mate with the male. If the female does decide to mate he will rub his on top of her, when the female is ready she will lift her tail and mating will then begin. A female Reticulated python is capable of storing the sperm from mating to use at a later date if the current climate conditions prove to be unsuitable for laying eggs. A female of this species is known to at times to mate with multiple males per season. on the other scale of the spectrum there are recorded cases of the female reproducing asexually with offspring with the exact same DNA as her own, this behaviour is rare and is used as an adaption for cases where no males are present during mating season.

For reproduction to be successful the area of mating and egg laying will need to be an area rich in prey animals, it is also important that the area is mostly uninhabited and undisturbed by humans or other predators. If prey is rather abundant in the area of mating the female can produce one clutch per year, in areas where prey is not so readily available she may produce a clutch once every 2 to 3 years. Per clutch a female will lay as little as 8 eggs to as many as 107 eggs, the viability of all these eggs will depend on the mother who will defend and incubate them for around 88 days. The optimal temperature for these eggs to be incubated at is 31-32c (88 – 90f), the young are independent at the age of birth and will reach reproductive maturity in the first 2-5 years of age.

Threats:

Due to the large size of these snakes there are virtually no predators for the adults of this species, the exception to this is that they are hunted by humans for their skin, for food, for use in traditional medicine, and they are also captured by humans for sale as a pet. The young and eggs of this species are subject to predation, the eggs are particularly vulnerable which is why they are protected by the mother until they hatch. The eggs and young snakes are subject to be preyed on by hawks, eagles, herons, and small mammals. Whilst it is rare for an adult of this species to be preyed upon there are cases where they may be preyed upon by crocodiles as well as other large predators.

Although these snakes do have a tendency to hang around human habitats it seems quite rare for these animals to go out of their way to attack humans. They are even in some cases seen to be as a benefit to human habitation as these pythons help control the population of rodent species which they prey upon. Though these animals are considered relatively docile in nature they are known to be quite aggressive if they feel like they are threatened and will hiss as a warning before attacking to protect themselves. Their bites are not considered too dangerous although there is a risk of the bite from a Reticulated Python becoming infected. In a domesticated setting it is recommended that only experienced snake handlers take responsibility for such an animal, whilst it may seem docile at first these animals will bite and possibly constrict if they feel threatened or if they mistake a hand or arm as food.

Despite these animals being targeted for hunting by humans for various uses it does appear that they are currently listed as a least concern species. With relatively few predators in the wild and the large clutch size per mating season there is a decent likelihood that this species of python will continue to thrive.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticula…

Animal Diversity: animaldiversity.org/accounts/P…

Kidadl: kidadl.com/animal-facts/reticu…

Animalia: animalia.bio/reticulated-pytho…