WEST AUSSIE REPTILES

Pythons are a primitive, widespread family closely related to
Boas and include some of the world’s largest snakes.



All pythons are non-venomous and overpower their prey by constriction.
They are mostly nocturnal animals, although may still be encountered
during daylight hours, particularly when basking in mild weather. All
pythons lay eggs and the mother will coil around her clutch to guard
and warm these eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the parental care is over,
and the young pythons will go their separate ways to fend for themselves
with a potential lifespan of well over 20 years.



Western Australia has 9 species of these constrictors which may be found
in almost any habitat throughout the entire state. They range in size
from 70 cm adult Pygmy python to the giant 6 meter long Olive python.
None of our pythons are considered dangerous, although a bite from a
large species can inflict a wound that may need medical attention.

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CARPET PYTHON

(Morelia spilota)

Description:

The south west carpet python is a large snake (up to 2.5 metres) with the head distinctly wider than the neck. They range from pale to dark brown and olive green to greyish brown with numerous irregular dark blotches. This pattern serves as a superb camouflage for the snake, either amongst leaf litter on the forest floor or in the branches of trees and shrubs.

Range & Habitat:

Occuring in a number of different habitats throughout the south west, they can also be located in long settled areas of perth. They may be found sheltering in hollow logs, caves, rock crevices, disused burrows or tree hollows . Carpet pythons have also been known for making the ceilings of human dwellings their home.

Diet:

Mainly consisting of mammals and birds, although young snakes initially feed on small lizards until they are large enough to catch and consume larger prey.

Comments:

Carpet pythons are probably one of Australia's most well-known pythons and is a very popular species with reptile keepers all over the world. Although non-venomous wild carpet pythons will bite repeatedly when defending themselves.

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STIMSONS PYTHON

(Anteresia stimsoni)

Description:

A small python, similar to the children's Python, but boldly marked with large dark brown blotches on a pale brown or yellowish background. It has large scales covering the head. Colouration and pattern can vary a lot within the species . A small python with an average adult length of 87cm although individuals up to 130cm have been recorded.

Range & Habitat:

Found all over W.A, except the far south of the state and the northern Kimberley. From Perth in the south to the southern Kimberley in the north, then extending east, passing the southern end of the Tanami desert & crossing the border into N.T & S.A.Shrublands, spinifex plains, rocky outcrops & open dry forest. Stimsons python's shelter in deep rock cracks and caves particularly where bat colonies are found. They also seek shelter in hollow logs & large termite mounds throughout their range.

Diet:

Stimpsons pythons will eat Small mammals, bats, birds, frogs and reptiles. Geckos make up a large part of the diet, particularly for young pythons.

Comments:

The Stimsons python has possibly the largest distribution of all the West Australian pythons and, in some areas, can be extremely common. Although wild specimens have a defensive & irritable nature, captive bred animals are very docile, easily handled and thrive in captivity.

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BLACK HEADED PYTHON

(Aspidites melanocefalus)

Description:

Black-Headed pythons are prominently banded snakes, with a jet-black head and a cream belly .This snake almost looks like it has been dipped into a can of black paint. This is one of only two Australian pythons that lack heat pits. Most are 1.5m -2m in length , although they can approach close to 3m in total length. They are moderately to heavy bodied, powerful constrictors.

Range & Habitat:

Northern Australia, tropical and subtropical grasslands and hills.

Diet:

This snake is a notorious reptile-eater , even feeding on venomous Snakes & monitor lizards. Small mammals and ground-nesting birds are occasionally consumed.

Comments:

Blackheaded pythons often lay still with their head and neck at a 45 degree angle to the ground, in this stance they can appear very similar to a fire-blackened stick. The black head of this animal allows it to remain mostly hidden when basking & exposing only its head to absorb the sun's rays. These Pythons are very docile in captivity and usually good feeders.

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OLIVE PYTHON

(Liasis olivaceus)

Description:

A very large and powerfull python,which can attain lengths of up to 6.5 mtres. It has a fine scaled unpatterned, olive/grey body colour with a creamy white belly.The elegant apearance can easily mask the extreme power of these large constrictors.

Range & Habitat:

The Olive python prefers rocky ascarpments and gorges particularly those associated with watercourses. They may be found along inland rivers, rock pools, coastal plains and caves. In W.A it is restricted to the kimberley region in the north , although a giant sub species (Liasis olivaceus barroni) does exist within the hammersley ranges of the pilbara region.

Diet:

Olive pythons are ambush hunters that will eat almost anything. Reptiles birds and mammals are all consumed, with large individuals been known to take wallabies and small kangaroos.

Comments:

The olive python is undoubtably one of W.A's most beautiful creatures and this is reflected in it's popularity in captivity all over the world. The exception being the western olive python (L.o.barroni), which is virtually non-existent in captivity.On this point I would like to quote some of the worlds leading herpetologists and python specialists, Dave and Tracy Barker, from their book "Pythons of the world"....

"We believe it is now timely and crucial to establish the western olive python in captivity. The pilbara region is developing and changing rapidly, and the water in this python's preferred habitat is of the greatest interest to all parties. This species is too big to escape notice. There will be no better time than now to allow the creation of managed captive populations of this python. There is no more efficient or effective way to aquire information about this mysterios giant of a snake, nor to ensure its conservation."

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WOMA PYTHON

(Aspidites ramsayi)

Description:

The woma python is distinguished from other Australian pythons by its narrow head indistinct from the neck and, like its close relative the Black headed python, differs from all other pythons by its lack of heat pits.........(more to come ....)

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