Southern rock python

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Southern rock python
Southern rock python (Python natalensis)

Southern rock python ( Python natalensis )

Systematics
without rank: Toxicofera
Subordination : Snakes (serpentes)
Superfamily : Python-like (Pythonoidea)
Family : Pythons (Pythonidae)
Genre : Actual Pythons ( Python )
Type : Southern rock python
Scientific name
Python natalensis
Smith , 1840

The southern rock python ( Python natalensis ) is a species of snake from the family of the pythons (Pythonidae) and is there in the subfamily of the pythons. It has long been considered a subspecies of the northern rock python ( Python sebae ) and was only recognized as a separate species in 1999. With secured lengths of over five meters, the southern rock python is one of the largest snakes in the world. Its distribution area includes tropical and subtropical parts from central to South Africa. The species predominantly inhabits open savannah landscapes not too far away from water bodies. As a cultural refugee he avoids human settlements and is only found occasionally on moderately intensively managed plantations.

The food consists of small to medium-sized, very rarely large vertebrates, depending on the size of the pythons. Adults often eat small antelopes. In extreme cases, prey animals weighing more than 25 kilograms, such as adolescent impalas, waterbuck fawns and smaller cheetahs, are captured. The python kills its prey by strangling .

Southern rock pythons, like all species of the genus Python, lay eggs (oviparous) and are among the species in which the females maintain the incubation temperature not by muscle tremors, but by daily sunbathing. Due to direct persecution and habitat destruction, the species has declined in many areas of its range, but is still considered harmless according to the IUCN .

description

Juveniles are built quite slim, but adult southern rock pythons have a very strong body. The broad, large head is clearly set off from the neck. The snout is rounded towards the tip. Here the nostrils sit at an angle between the top of the head and the side of the head. The prehensile tail makes up about 11% of the total length in females and over 13% in males. Anal spurs are larger in males than in females.

Scaling

The head side is less contrasted in this species than in the northern rock python

The large pair of internasalia (intermediate nasal shields) are followed by two large pairs of prefrontalia (forehead shields). The rest of the top of the head is characteristically covered with small, irregular scales. In contrast to the northern rock python , the frontalia (frontal shields) are divided into many individual scales and no longer recognizable as such. On the side of the head there are many small Lorealia (rein shields). Their number is less than that of the northern rock python. Around the eye is a ring of 8 to 13 circumorbitalia (shields that encompass the eyes). In contrast to the other species , the supraocularia (super eye shields ) are divided into two to three individual shields . There are one upper large and one to two smaller lower Präocularia (fore eye shields), three to four Postocularia (posterior eye shields) and usually three Infraocularia . The rostral (snout shield), which is also visible from above , has two deep labial pits . Of the 10 to 16 supralabials (shields of the upper lip), the two foremost have a labial groove. There are 17 to 24 infralabialia (lower lip shields ), of which the first 4 to 6 have poorly recognizable labial pits.

The number of ventralia (belly shields) varies depending on the origin of the individuals between 260 and 291, the number of dorsal rows of scales in the middle of the body between 78 and 99. From the cloaca to the tip of the tail there are 63 to 84 paired subcaudalia (underside shields of the tail).

coloring

The basic color ranges from light brown, orange, olive green to grayish. The body pattern is very variable. In the front third of the body there are large, generally rectangular, dark brown, black-rimmed saddle spots that merge towards the tail and form a continuous dark back band. On this dark band, light spots run along the edge to the flanks and along the spine. The latter merge into long stripes on the back of the body. The dark pattern on the back is separated from the base color by a thin, rather indistinct light recess. Along the flanks there are large, narrow dark brown spots with partially lightened centers. In the back of the body, the flank spots often merge with one another and with the pattern on the back. In about 25% of the animals, a long, light brown strip-shaped area remains free between the dark pattern on the upper side of the tail. At 50% this area is interrupted and at 25% it is completely absent. On the whitish belly there are isolated black spots, on the underside of the tail they become more numerous.

The head of the southern rock python is generally less contrasting in color and the pattern is less developed than that of the northern rock python. The top of the head, which is light brown to pale pink, has an arrowhead-shaped dark brown pattern that extends from the nose over the eyes to the nape of the neck and includes a light point in the middle. On the side of the head, a thin dark stripe runs behind the nostril towards the eye. There is a small, dark triangle on the upper lip below the eye. It is typically reduced or broken up into a few small spots. Behind the eye, a dark band, only about the same in width as the diameter of the eye, runs to the rear edge of the mouth. This band can be clearly brightened in its center. The white underside of the head is patterned with a few small spots on the lower lip and throat. The rest of the underside of the head usually also has some dark spots.

The iris is dark brown and hardly distinguishable from the black pupil.

length

Southern rock pythons average a total length of 2.8 to 4 meters. Animals with a total length of over 4.6 meters are already very rare. In terms of body length and weight, this species exhibits a sexual dimorphism: on average, females are significantly larger and heavier than males. Of 75 animals examined in South Africa, the longest female was 4.34 meters in length and weighed 53.4 kilograms. The largest male measured a total of 4.23 meters and weighed 31.1 kilograms. In the past, massively overstretched hides were repeatedly used for length records. Only one living specimen with a total length of 5.56 meters is well documented. It was caught in the former Kingdom of Zululand , measured by FitzSimons (1930) and exhibited in Port Elizabeth's Snake Park. The so far apparently longest seriously measured southern rock python comes from the former Transvaal and, according to Branch & Haacke (1980), had a total length of 5.8 meters.

Distribution area

Distribution area of ​​the southern rock python (red) and the northern rock python (green) and overlapping areas (yellow)

The distribution area of ​​the southern rock python extends on the African continent from the equator south to South Africa. In central Africa the species is represented in southern Angola , in the southeast and eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Zambia . In East Africa you can find this python in Kenya , South Tanzania , Burundi , Malawi , Mozambique and Zimbabwe . In southern Africa its occurrence extends from northern Namibia through Botswana and Swaziland to the southeastern part of South Africa . The southernmost population lives in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. It is completely isolated and around 350 kilometers from other populations. Another apparently isolated population can be found in the Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park of the South African ZF Mgcawu district, which may have connections to a presumably also isolated population in southern Namibia. The species is absent in the arid areas in the west and south of Namibia and Botswana and in the western half of South Africa.

It is believed that the southern rock python once spread northward along the western and eastern valleys of the Great African Rift Valley in areas dominated by the northern rock python. In Kenya, 40 kilometers northwest of Mwingi, there is still an area of ​​intersection of the species with a population of the southern rock python. Relic populations are also present in Burundi and in the east of the Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Tanzania, the ranges of the two species overlap extensively to about 900 kilometers. In Angola, previous studies indicate a complete spatial separation of the two species.

habitat

The southern rock python lives mainly in open savannas . It also lives in the thicket along coasts, on grasslands, in open forest areas, in rocky hill country and sometimes even in semi-deserts . It is particularly common in the vicinity of permanent bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. It is found in the Haut-Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the Kundelungu Plateau at 1750 meters above sea level. In the Nyanga district of Zimbabwe and possibly also in Kenya and Tanzania it reaches altitudes of 2000 meters above sea level. In Kenya and northern Tanzania, where the distribution of the southern and northern rock pythons overlap, the southern species is primarily present at higher altitudes. As a far-reaching cultural refugee, the southern rock python avoids human settlements and areas that are used intensively for agriculture. However, it repeatedly hunts rodents on moderately intensively used plantations. He is also occasionally lured to farms by the smell of cattle.

Studies have shown that the range of this python is limited, among other things, by an environment that is too cool, as temperatures that are too low limit the breeding success considerably. Southern rock pythons could theoretically survive in cooler regions, but not reproduce successfully. In many more barren areas subject to climatic fluctuations, the occurrence of this python is also often linked to the presence of aardvarks , warthogs and porcupines , since their burrows form an optimal microhabitat for the species.

behavior

Southern rock python well camouflaged in the branches. Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana

The southern rock python is a mainly ground-dwelling snake that moves leisurely to briskly and in a straight line on the ground. He is generally considered to be very active. In South Africa, tracking devices were able to demonstrate that adult individuals can cover distances of five kilometers in just a few days and use an area of ​​more than 500 hectares for a whole year.

As an excellent climber, he often hangs out in the branches of bushes and trees to rest or to ambush prey . For the latter, he sometimes hangs in wait for hours from a branch until a prey passes under him.

Southern rock pythons are also good swimmers, some of whom stay in the water for longer periods. They occasionally dive over two meters deep and can do without air for at least 15 minutes. They often lie in shallow places on the bank, with only their nostrils and eyes protruding above the surface of the water. From this well-camouflaged position, they often ambush prey that goes to the water to drink. At least in South Africa, the southern rock pythons live in areas close to water, but the tendency to swim is different among the individual individuals. Only an average of 3% of the days of the year were spent in the water by the 24 animals examined. Bathing was not subject to any seasonal trend. In order to warm the body, which had been cooled down to an average of 20 ° C by the water, the pythons visited places on land that were exposed to the sun practically every day.

Juvenile animals ostensibly live in secret due to numerous predators, while adult animals often spend many hours a day in exposed places. The species chooses treetops, bushes, tall grass, hollow tree trunks, abandoned caves of aardvark, warthogs and porcupines, deep crevices, uninhabited termite mounds and bank vegetation as hiding and resting places.

Southern rock python on the banks of the Cuando in Botswana

Southern rock pythons are both diurnal and nocturnal, although they usually show the more intense activity patterns at night. The daily activity, however, is closely related to the ambient temperature. In South Africa, where there are significant seasonal temperature differences, the species is active both day and night in spring. These favorable temperatures promote their joy of movement and the mating instinct. With increasing heat in summer, their activity is increasingly limited to the milder night; the day is spent in shady, cooling hiding places. Towards autumn the temperatures again become favorable for daily and nocturnal activities. In order to be able to fast over the cool winter months, they intensify their foraging during this time. In the cool winter, the pythons retreat to climatically more favorable caves and usually only leave them around the warm midday to warm themselves in the sun for about two hours. Sometimes they stay underground for up to a week, even if their activity is severely restricted.

In South Africa, places to sunbathe are actively sought out on more than half of the climatically favorable days of the year, especially in autumn and winter. To do this, the pythons lie in the sun in the morning and usually strive for a remarkably uniform, gender-independent and only slightly seasonally specific target body temperature of around 32 ° C. In order not to overheat, they then switch to a shady position in the grass or under other vegetation and sometimes take a lurking position. Depending on how long they are exposed to the sun, they sometimes commute more than five times and over a period of more than four hours between sunny and shady places, thus maintaining their body temperature.

Exceptions, however, are prey-digesting pythons as well as pregnant and breeding females, who expose themselves to the sun even longer and thus reach a significantly higher target body temperature of around 35 ° C. In general, southern rock pythons heat up twice as fast as they cool. Small pythons with a total length of one meter warm up roughly twice as fast as very large animals with a total length of 4 meters. Nevertheless, the heating-up period for large animals is still short enough that only a small part of the day has to be spent in the sun. Adult animals need less than two hours even in winter to warm their bodies, some of which are well below 15 ° C, to the desired 32 ° C.

nutrition

Southern rock python devours a young ibex . Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa

The food of the southern rock python consists mainly of animals of the same temperature . Young individuals often prey on small birds and mice, and rarely also lizards and frogs. Among the most common prey subadulter and adult Southern rock pythons are African hyrax , hare , spring hares , cane rats and other rodents, young representatives Real pigs , cats , jackals , small monkeys like Vervet cats , ground-dwelling birds and small antelopes like Duiker , Blue Duiker , Sharpe -Greebucks and Impala -Kids. Occasionally, difficult-to-capture porcupines are also consumed. In rare cases, fish such as cichlids , monitor lizards , small Nile crocodiles , duck eggs and even carrion are devoured. Individuals with a total length of 4 meters are able to devour prey weighing 25 kilograms. Of very large Southern rock pythons therefore also young, in rare cases, Sitatunga , young Bontebok , young Nyala , small reedbuck , waterbuck -Kitze, African wild dogs and smaller cheetahs eaten.

Exceptionally, very large prey animals are also eaten. For example, a female southern rock python with a total length of 4.7 meters and a weight of 37 kilograms devoured an almost equally heavy, adolescent impala buck weighing 35 kilograms. There is also evidence of a case where an individual with a total length of 4.88 meters captured an impala weighing 59 kilograms.

Adult southern rock pythons often wander around in search of food. Even more often, however, they lie in wait and watch their prey in the branches, on the banks of waters or hidden on the edge of a game trail. Like all giant snakes , the southern rock python then bites its prey and suffocates it by entwining itself. For proportionally small prey one, for larger two and for very large up to 5 wraps are made, whereby in the latter case the entire body is included. After that, the prey is usually devoured head first, which sometimes takes more than 1.5 hours. Devouring porcupines and horned antelopes often leads to wounds. Several individuals have already been observed with horns piercing the esophagus, costal arch, and skin. In most cases, however, these large wounds healed completely and without consequences.

Reproduction

In central Africa, mating and oviposition are observed throughout the year. Further south, reproduction becomes increasingly seasonal. In South Africa, the mating season follows the cool winter from late June to early September. Susceptible females behave very actively during this time and cover long distances. Males locate susceptible females by following their pheromone trails on the ground. Up to 12 males have been spotted chasing a female at the same time. The competitors showed no aggression at all. According to captivity observations, the dominant male repeatedly crawls over the partner from behind during the approach period. It presses itself against her body, tries to nudge her gently with the snout in the neck area and hugs his tail to the side of hers. If the female is willing to mate, it lifts its tail and opens the cloaca. This is followed by copulation, which lasts between 54 and 173 minutes. Pregnant female southern rock pythons warm themselves much more frequently in the sun compared to nonreproductive animals and aim for significantly higher target body temperatures of around 35 ° C.

Females turn almost black during pregnancy and the breeding season and tend to sunbathe intensely ( Kruger National Park , South Africa)

In South Africa, after a gestation period of around two months, the female looks for an egg-laying place at the beginning of the hot and humid season from September to December. For this purpose, among other things, empty buildings of aardvarks, warthogs or porcupines, abandoned termite mounds and deep crevices are used. When 14 females lay eggs, between 17 and 74 eggs, an average of 30 eggs, were counted. The number of eggs depends on the size and condition of the female and can rarely be up to 100 eggs. These sticky, whitish eggs, measuring 62–92 × 53–64 millimeters and weighing 114 to 149 grams, are then surrounded by the female and formed into a tower 45 to 60 centimeters in diameter and up to 30 centimeters high.

Breeding success and incubation time are strongly dependent on a relatively constant incubation temperature above 28 ° C. Since the incubation temperature is usually below the setpoint during the day, at least in South Africa, the incubation temperature must be actively increased. In contrast to some other members of the genus Python , southern rock python females cannot increase the breeding temperature by trembling their muscles. Instead, they usually leave the clutch twice a day in order to heat their bodies in the sun to around 35 ° C - and occasionally even below the lethality threshold at over 40 ° C. They then immediately return to their brood in order to transfer the body temperature they have gained to the eggs and the brood chamber. Because the body color in breeding females becomes almost black for hormonal reasons, the heat absorption functions even more efficiently during this period. Occasionally it has also been observed how females go to the water, return to the nesting site with their bodies wet and thus actively maintain a humid climate in the breeding chamber. In general, the exposed females behave disproportionately shy and return to the clutch to protect them even if they are only slightly disturbed.

Newly hatched young animal ( Limpopo Province , South Africa)

In captivity, the young hatch after an incubation temperature-dependent period of 79 to 110 days. The young snakes 48 to 63 centimeters long and 66 to 77 grams heavy are lighter and more clearly patterned than the adults. According to observations in South Africa, the mother and young remain with the nest for about two weeks. During the day they usually leave the breeding cave to sunbathe in front of the entrance. In the evening the mother returns to the nest and curls around the empty eggshells. The young then climb into the mother's slings and use them as heat donors. It is believed that this warmth helps digest the egg yolk that is still in the stomach. The mother no longer seems to fulfill a protective function while being together; in fact, she is rather timid and goes first to the cave when disturbed. After about 12 days, the pups molt for the first time, one or two days later they leave the nest for good. Sexual maturity is reached in captivity at 2.2 to 6 years old with a total length of 2.5 meters. In the wild, the species probably needs more than 10 years to reach sexual maturity due to less favorable conditions.

The egg-laying and the subsequent breeding season is associated with a very high expenditure of energy for females. By the end of the incubation period, they lose weight to an average of 60% of their original mass. Reproduction therefore represents an increased risk of mortality. A female that was already weakened before reproduction, was 4.37 meters long and weighed 42 kilograms, weighed only 12 kilograms after breeding and died a short time later. It takes a few months to regain your original body mass. For this reason, in nature, females often only lay eggs every other or third year.

Age and life expectancy

Information on the average and maximum ages of individuals living in the wild is unknown. Southern Rock Pythons typically live to be 20 to 25 years old in captivity.

Predators and parasites

The numerous nest predators include rats, mongooses , jackals and monitor lizards . Furthermore, the southern rock python has many enemies, especially in its youth. These include, for example, crocodiles, leopards, honey badgers , again mongooses and ophiophageous snakes such as the Cape file snake ( Mehelya capenis ). When fully eaten, even larger pythons are limited in their locomotion and defense and can, among other things, become prey for hyenas and African wild dogs . Occasionally, these pythons are also attacked by wild boars, especially warthogs, who want to defend their young. Southern rock pythons with a total length of 4 meters have already been killed. Otherwise, large animals appear to be largely immune to predators.

Like most other snakes, southern rock pythons are colonized by a variety of parasites. The ectoparasites described so far include various ticks and mites . Among the endoparasites were previously in intestines and blood several species of protozoa , in the digestive tract , tapeworms (Cestoda) and nematodes (Nematoda) and in lung tissue pentastomida (Pentastomida) the nature Armillifer proven.

Danger

Once still numerous and widespread, the southern rock python has become rarer in many places in its range. For decades this python has been caught and killed for the leather industry in numerous countries in its range, but to a lesser extent than some python species in Southeast Asia. Many African tribes also eat its apparently nutritious meat and use the fat for their traditional medicine. Many farmers are now aware that southern rock pythons play an important role in exterminating pests such as reeds, hyrax and jackals on agricultural land, but these snakes are still often killed for fear of livestock losses. Sometimes they are also killed out of fear or fear for small children. In addition, as a tendency to flee from culture, this python tends to disappear from areas more and more densely populated by humans and to avoid intensively used agricultural areas. For example, the severe and abrupt deforestation for the expansion of sugar cane plantations in South Africa has resulted in local exterminations. In recent times, the number of pythons run over on roads in southern Africa has become increasingly important. In addition, the widespread use of electric fences for pastures is increasing, resulting in more and more deaths from electric shock. This continuing trend is seen as a future threat to individual populations.

The population residing in the Eastern Cape of South Africa was found to be extinct as early as 1927 as a result of intensive hunting and habitat destruction. In the following years a few individuals were spotted in this area, but a recovery of this ailing population was not foreseeable. Thanks to a reintroduction project through which 34 southern rock pythons were released in the Andries Vosloo Kudu Reserve between 1980 and 1987, the Cape population is now growing again. Since the species was legally protected throughout South Africa in 1988, numerous other reintroduction efforts have taken place here. Also in areas that were never inhabited by these pythons before, some successful reintroduction attempts were made. In Namibia, this python has been under preventive protection since 1975, which means that a significant leather and live animal trade has never been able to establish itself here. Although the southern rock python is still relatively often killed illegally in rural regions of Namibia, its populations in remote areas are still relatively high and its large area of ​​distribution has largely been preserved.

Despite the visible decline seen over the entire range, the southern rock python is still considered to be widespread and, particularly in some wildlife reserves, quite common. For this reason it is considered safe by the IUCN and is not listed. In the Washington Convention , however, this python is considered endangered, is listed in Appendix II and is subject to trade restrictions.

Systematics

Illustration for the first description ( Smith , 1840)

Smith described the species in 1840 based on South African specimens from near the port city of Durban , formerly Port Natal. The southern rock python got its scientific name Python natalensis because of this locality.

The relationships between the great African pythons: Python sebae ( Gmelin 1789), Python natalensis (Smith 1840) and Python saxuloides (Miller & Smith 1979) were unexplained for a long time. There was a lack of specimen copies for the individual species, especially from places where they occur in sympatry or parapatry . Therefore, in the 20th century, these pythons were largely recognized only as a monotypic species and were listed under the name Python sebae . On the basis of a large collection of data, Broadley delineated rock pythons with northern and southern distribution areas from each other in 1984, primarily on the basis of the fragmentation strength of the top shields and the pattern on the head side. Because of possible hybridizations in areas of overlap, he assigned the two groups only subspecies status and named the northern form Python sebae sebae and the southern form Python sebae natalensis . Python saxuloides turned out to be a slightly different Kenyan population from Python sebae natalensis and was equated with the latter. In 1999, Broadley assigned species status to the two subspecies, as new, more precise data from areas with extensive sympatry in Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania indicated no hybridization. In 2002, however, hybrid forms were reported near the Tanzanian city of Morogoro . Nevertheless, the division into two separate types is still applicable due to the current data situation. Further evidence of hybridization would have to follow or a genetic analysis would have to be negative in order to reverse the species status.

Among the real pythons , the northern and southern rock pythons are most closely related to the tiger python, which is native to South and Southeast Asia . This is the result of a recent molecular genetic study that includes the northern rock python and the tiger python.

Southern rock python and human

Behavior towards people

Wild southern rock pythons are usually not very aggressive. If they are startled or disturbed, they usually try to escape as quickly as possible. Only in severe distress do they defend themselves with defense bites. With their sharp, curved teeth, they can tear deep, infectious wounds. There are practically no accidents due to the southern rock pythons living in the wild. Nevertheless, they were repeatedly said to have attacked or even killed people. Most of these claims, however, upon closer investigation have been found to be gross exaggerations and often even human attacks on the python. Only one death has so far been seriously proven. It is a 13-year-old boy, 1.3 meters tall and 45 kilograms, who was attacked and suffocated by a southern rock python with a total length of around 4.5 meters while herding cattle in the South African Waterberg district in 1978 . It is believed that the smell of the grazing cattle and the sudden appearance of the boy led to a misjudgment and thus triggered the python's prey-catching behavior.

Cultural

Because of their size and their mysterious way of life, there are various legends and some superstitions about these pythons among native tribes. They are the favorite animals of many medicine men and are seen by some tribes as incorporating the souls of the deceased. Therefore, in many parts of Africa, they are neither disturbed nor killed.

On the other hand, southern rock pythons are very popular and eaten in large quantities by certain tribes. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they are hunted with spears or caught with snare traps at the entrance to their hiding places. Python steak grilled on charcoal is particularly popular. It is considered to be similar to cod meat and is very tasty, tender and aromatic. In addition, the python fat is used externally by many native tribes as an ointment against rheumatism and chest complaints and taken internally as a drink against various ailments.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w G. J. Alexander: Thermal Biology of the Southern African Python (Python natalensis): Does temperature limit its distribution? In: RW Henderson, R. Powell (Eds.): Biology of the Boas and Pythons . Eagle Mountain Publishing Company, Eagle Mountain 2007, ISBN 978-0-9720154-3-1 , pp. 51-75.
  2. ↑ a b c J. G. Walls: The Living Pythons . TFH Publications 1998, ISBN 0-7938-0467-1 , pp. 142-146, 166-171.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa D. G. Broadley: FitzSimons' Snakes of Southern Africa . Delta Books 1983, ISBN 0-908387-04-0 , pp. 63-69.
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n D. G. Broadley: A review of geographical variation in the African Python, Python sebae (Gmelin) . British Journal of Herpetology 6, 1984, pp 359-367.
  5. ↑ a b c d e S. Spawls, K. Howell, R. Drewes, J. Ashe: A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa . Academic Press, London 2002, ISBN 0-12-656470-1 , pp. 305-310.
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o F. W. FitzSimons: Pythons and their ways . George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, London 1930, pp. 12, 17, 23, 32, 34, 39, 41, 67.
  7. ↑ a b c W. R. Branch, WD Haacke: A Fatal Attack on a Young Boy by an African Rock Python Python sebae . Journal of Herpetology 14, No. 3, 1980, pp. 305-307.
  8. ↑ a b B. Branch, WR Branch: Field guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa . Struik Publishers 1998, ISBN 0-88359-042-5 , pp. 59-60.
  9. ^ A b W. R. Branch, M. Griffin: Pythons in Namibia: Distribution, Conservation, and Captive Breeding Programs . Advances in Herpetoculture - Special Publications of the International Herpetological Symposium, Inc., 1996, pp. 93-102.
  10. ↑ a b c D. G. Broadley: The Southern African Python, Python natalensis A. Smith 1840, is a valid species . African Herpetological News 29, 1999, pp. 31-32.
  11. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j G. V. Haagner: The husbandry and captive propagation of the southern rock python, Python sebae natalensis (at Port Elizabeth Snake Park, South Africa) . British Herpetological Society Bulletin 42, 1992-1993, pp. 30-41.
  12. ^ MN Bruton: The amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals of Lake Sibayi . In: BR Allanson (ed.): Lake Sibayi . Monographiae Biologicae 36, 1979. Quoted in: GV Haagner: The husbandry and captive propagation of the southern rock python, Python sebae natalensis . British Herpetological Society Bulletin 42, 1992-1993, pp. 30-41.
  13. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p G. J. Alexander, J. Marais: A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa . Struik Publishers, Cape Town 2007, ISBN 978-1-77007-386-9 , pp. 61-65.
  14. ^ WR Branch, RW Patterson: Notes on the development of embryos of the Arican Rock Python, Python sebae (Serpentes: Boidae) (at Transvaal Snake Park) . Journal of Herpetology 9, 1975, pp. 243-248.
  15. ^ A b c W. R. Branch: Python sebae natalensis: Species account . South African Red Data Book - Reptiles and Amphibians. South African National Scientific Programs Report No. 151, 1988, pp. 61-65.
  16. ^ GR McLachlan: South African Red Databook - Reptiles and Amphibians . South African national scientific programs report 23, 1978, p. 32, online, pdf .
  17. ↑ CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora : Appendices I, II and II, valid from July 1, 2008, online .
  18. ^ A. Smith: Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa, Reptilia . Smith, Elder, and Co., London 1840. (Smith already mentions this python in the South African Quarterly Journal, new series, Oct. 1833, p. 64, but his work from 1840 is considered a species description)
  19. ^ TJ Miller, HM Smith: The Lesser African Rock Python . Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 15, Volume 3, pp. 70-84. Quoted in: GJ Alexander: Thermal Biology of the Southern African Python (Python natalensis): Does temperature limit its distribution? In: RW Henderson, R. Powell (Eds.): Biology of the Boas and Pythons . Eagle Mountain Publishing Company, Eagle Mountain 2007, ISBN 978-0-9720154-3-1 , pp. 51-75.
  20. ↑ LH Rawlings, DL Rabosky, SC Donnellan, MN Hutchinson: Python phylogenetics: inference from morphology and mitochondrial DNA . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 93, 2008, pp. 603-619, [cteg.berkeley.edu/~rabosky/Publications_files/Rawlings_etal_BJLS_2008.pdf online, pdf].

literature

  • GJ Alexander: Thermal Biology of the Southern African Python (Python natalensis): Does temperature limit its distribution? In: RW Henderson and R. Powell (Eds.): Biology of the Boas and Pythons . Eagle Mountain Publishing Company, Eagle Mountain 2007, ISBN 978-0-9720154-3-1 : pp. 51-75.
  • GJ Alexander, J. Marais: A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa . Struik Publishers, Cape Town 2007, ISBN 978-1-77007-386-9 , pp. 61-65.
  • DG Broadley: A review of geographical variation in the African Python, Python sebae (Gemelin) . British Journal of Herpetology 6, 1984, pp 359-367.
  • DG Broadley: FitzSimons' Snakes of Southern Africa . Delta Books 1983, ISBN 0-908387-04-0 , pp. 63-69.
  • S. Spawls, K. Howell, R. Drewes, J. Ashe: A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa . Academic Press 2002, ISBN 0-12-656470-1 , pp. 305-310.

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Commons : Southern rock python ( Python natalensis )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
This article was added to the list of excellent articles on November 13, 2010 in this version .