Spotted python
| Spotted python | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spotted python ( Antaresia maculosa ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Antaresia maculosa | ||||||||||||
| ( Peters , 1873) |
The spot Python ( Antaresia maculosa ) also spotted dwarf python is a snake from the family of pythons (Pythonidae). It is closely related to the spotted python ( A. childreni ) and externally very similar, so that for a long time no distinction was made between the two species.
features
The species becomes on average about 75 to 80 cm long, occasionally to just over a meter. In general, the animals become larger in the northern part of the range. In captivity, lengths of over 1.5 m are reached. The body color consists of a light yellow-brown basic color with dark brown patterning, which varies greatly between different individuals. In contrast to many other species, the pattern remains strong throughout life. The unpatterned belly side is lighter. In contrast to A. childreni , the head is clearly separated from the neck and has no warmth pits.
distribution and habitat
The spotted python occurs on the east coast of Australia from the Cape York Peninsula over eastern Queensland to the northeast of New South Wales and on a number of islands off Queensland. The species colonizes different biotopes , but is mainly found in dry forest areas.
Way of life and reproduction
The spotted python prefers to stay in crevices, termite structures , hollow tree trunks or near caves. The wide range of prey includes birds, rodents, lizards, small monitor lizards, frogs and bats which, hanging by their tails, are caught from flight when they leave the sleeping caves.
Mating takes place from April to August. The clutch consists of 4 to 20 eggs which are incubated by the mother by trembling and occasionally moistened by the female. The 25 to 30 cm long cubs hatch after about 80 days and feed mainly on small lizards.
swell
- Trutnau, L. (1979/2002) Non-poisonous snakes, part 1 Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co. ISBN 3-8001-3223-0
- Sheet of James Cook University (PDF file, 15 kB)
