Stimson Python
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Stimson python ( Antaresia stimsoni ) |
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| Antaresia stimsoni | ||||||||||||
| ( Smith , 1932) |
The Stimson python ( Antaresia stimsoni ), also Stimson's python , is a species from the genus Antaresia in the family of the pythons (Pythonidae).
features
The Stimson python has an elongated head that is barely detached from the neck. The top of the head and body are brown with darker, large spots that are paired on the body and partially overlap the sides of the body, resulting in a banded appearance. The ventral side is cream-colored to white. Color, pattern and pholidosis vary greatly within the distribution area. Adult specimens are on average 70 to 80 cm long, the maximum length is 140 cm.
The Pholidose varies greatly in the distribution area. A supraocular shield borders the large frontal shield on each side of the head . There are a pair of internasal shields and one to three pairs of prefrontalia . The single pair of parietal shields is occasionally divided by one to three interparietal shields . There are 4 to 18 Loreal shields and two to three preocular shields . The mouth is surrounded by 10 to 15 supralabial shields and 11 to 16 infralabial shields . The trunk has 30 to 47 rows of smooth scales in its center, 243 to 302 ventral shields, and 30 to 45 mostly divided sub-caudal shields and an undivided anal shield .
Sometimes two subspecies are distinguished, of which the eastern A. s. orientalis has a stronger body drawing and a smaller number of scales and shields in the middle of the trunk than the type subspecies A. s. stimsoni .
distribution and habitat
The Stimson python has the largest range of all Australian pythons. The species is found from the west coast over a number of offshore islands to most of the Australian interior and is only absent in the northern, eastern and southern coastal areas. A. s. stimsoni is found in Western Australia from Perth to the Pilbara region, A. s. orientalis in the rest of the range.
Sometimes there is hybridization with Antaresia childreni and Antaresia maculosa .
The species occurs in different habitats, from mountain slopes to plains to scrubland, and prefers to stay in crevices and caves.
Way of life
The Stimson python is mainly nocturnal and hunts amphibians , lizards, birds, bats and other small mammals. In the Australian spring, the females lay up to ten eggs that are glued together to form a clutch, from which the 25 to 30 cm long cubs hatch after 51 to 70 days.
swell
- Ludwig Trutnau : Non-poisonous snakes, part 1 . 4th edition. Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co., Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3223-0 .
Web links
- Antaresia stimsoni in The Reptile Database
- Stimson Python at www.pilbarapythons.com (Engl.)