Indian python: Difference between revisions
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The nominate subspecies is found in [[India]], southern [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Bhutan]], [[Bangladesh]] and probably in the north of [[Myanmar]].<ref name=Whitaker04>R. Whitaker, A. Captain: ''Snakes of India, The field guide''. Chennai, India: Draco Books 2004, ISBN 81-901873-0-9, p. 3, 12, 78-81. |
The nominate subspecies is found in [[India]], southern [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Bhutan]], [[Bangladesh]] and probably in the north of [[Myanmar]].<ref name=Whitaker04>R. Whitaker, A. Captain: ''Snakes of India, The field guide''. Chennai, India: Draco Books 2004, ISBN 81-901873-0-9, p. 3, 12, 78-81. |
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[[File:Head of Python molurus.JPG|thumb|Top View of the Head of P. molurus]]</ref> |
[[File:Head of Python molurus.JPG|thumb|Top View of the Head of P. molurus]]</ref> |
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==Habitat== |
==Habitat== |
Revision as of 14:33, 5 December 2012
Indian python | |
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Near Nagarhole National Park | |
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Species: | P. molurus
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Binomial name | |
Python molurus (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Synonyms | |
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Python molurus is a large nonvenomous python species found in many tropic and subtropic areas of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is known by the common names Indian python,[2] black-tailed python[3] and Indian rock python. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate subspecies (Python m. molurus) and the Burmese Python (Python m. bivittatus). The nominate subspecies mainly described here is limited to Southern Asia, is generally lighter colored than the Burmese Python and reaches usually 3 metres (9.8 ft).[4]
Common names
Indian python,[2] black-tailed python,[3] Indian rock python, Asian rock python.[5][6] Referred to as "Ajgar" in Hindi, "Azdaha" in Urdu and "Ajogor" in Bengali. In Sri Lanka the species is commonly referred to as "Pimbura" in Sinhala. The now stemmed off subspecies Python molorus pimbura probably came to light with this common alias found in Sri Lanka.
Description
The color pattern is whitish or yellowish with the blotched patterns varying from shades of tan to dark brown. This varies with terrain and habitat. Specimens from the hill forests of Western Ghats and Assam are darker, while those from the Deccan Plateau and East Coast are usually lighter.[7]
In Pakistan, Indian Pythons commonly reach a length of 2.4–3 metres (7.9–9.8 ft).[8] In India, the nominate subspecies grows to 3 metres (9.8 ft) on average [4][7] This value is supported by a 1990 study in Keoladeo National Park, where the biggest 25% of the python population was 2.7–3.3 metres (8.9–10.8 ft) long. Only two specimen even measured nearly 3.6 metres (12 ft).[9] Because of confusion with the Burmese Python, exaggerations and stretched skins in the past, the maximum length of this subspecies is hard to tell. The longest scientifically recorded specimen, which hailed from Pakistan, was 4.6 metres (15 ft) in length and weighed 52 kilograms (115 lb).[8]
Geographic range
The nominate subspecies is found in India, southern Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and probably in the north of Myanmar.[10] ghgssf
Habitat
Occurs in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, swamps, marshes, rocky foothills, woodlands, "open" jungle and river valleys. They depend on a permanent source of water.[11] Sometimes they can be found in abandoned mammal burrows, hollow trees, dense water reeds and mangrove thickets.[7]
Behavior
Lethargic and slow moving even in its native habitat, they exhibit timidity and rarely try to escape even when attacked. Locomotion is usually rectilinear, with the body moving in a straight line. They are very good swimmers and are quite at home in water. They can be wholly submerged in water for many minutes if necessary, but usually prefer to remain near the bank.
Feeding
These snakes are carnivore animals and they feed on mammals, birds and reptiles indiscriminately, but seem to prefer mammals. Roused to activity on sighting prey, the snake will advance with quivering tail and lunge with open mouth. Live prey is constricted and killed. One or two coils are used to hold it in a tight grip. The prey, unable to breathe, succumbs and is subsequently swallowed head first. After a heavy meal, they are disinclined to move. If forced to, hard parts of the meal may tear through the body. Therefore, if disturbed, some specimens will disgorge their meal in order to escape from potential predators. After a heavy meal, an individual may fast for weeks, the longest recorded duration being 2 years. The python can swallow prey bigger than its diameter because the jaw bones are not connected. Moreover, prey cannot escape from its mouth because of the arrangement of the teeth (which are reverse saw-like).
Reproduction
Oviparous,up to 100 eggs are laid, protected and incubated by the female.[11] Towards this end, it has been shown that they are capable of raising their body temperature above the ambient level through muscular contractions.[12] The hatchlings are 45–60 cm (18–24 in) in length and grow quickly.
Conservation status
These snakes have often been killed for their fine skin and are endangered. They are now partly protected by the Tamil Nadu Government. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the meat is eaten by locals as the fat is purported to have medicinal value. The Indian Python is classified as Lower Risk/Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1996).[13] This listing indicates that it may become threatened with extinction and is in need of frequent reassessment.[14]
Subspecies
Subspecies[2] | Taxon author[2] | Common name[5] | Geographic range[6][15] |
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P. m. bivittatus | Kuhl, 1820 | Burmese python | Eastern India and Nepal into Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, Vietnam and eastwards to southern China and Hainan. Absent from Borneo and Sumatra, but present on Java, Sulawesi and the small Sunda islands of Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. |
P. m. molurus | (Linnaeus, 1758) | Indian python | Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh. |
Taxonomy
In the literature, one other subspecies may be encountered: P. m. pimbura Deraniyagala, 1945, which is found in Sri Lanka.
Gallery
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From San Diego zoo
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Labial Pits of P. molurus. Specimen at Ezhimala, Kerala, India.
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Indian rock python with clearly visible body pattern.
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Natural distribution of the Indian Python (red) and the Burmese Python (green) and interference area (yellow).
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P. m. molurus in Keoladeo National Park, India.
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Head scalation.
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Skeleton.
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Head
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P. m. molurus swallowing a Chital deer fawn, Mudumalai National Park
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P. m. molurus, basking in front of its hole in Keoladeo National Park, India
See also
- List of pythonid species and subspecies.
- Pythonidae by common name.
- Pythonidae by taxonomic synonyms.
References
- ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ a b c d "Python molurus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
- ^ a b Ditmars RL. 1933. Reptiles of the World. Revised Edition. The MacMillan Company. 329 pp. 89 plates.
- ^ a b Wall, F. (1912), "A popular treatise on the common Indian snakes – The Indian Python", Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 21: 447–476.
- ^ a b Jerry G. Walls: "The Living Pythons";T. F. H. Publications, 1998: pp. 131-142; ISBN 0-7938-0467-1
- ^ a b Mark O’Shea: „Boas and Pythons of the World“; New Holland Publishers, 2007; pp 80-87; ISBN 978-1-84537-544-7
- ^ a b c Rhomulus Whitaker: „Common Indian Snakes – A Field Guide“; The Macmillan Company of India Limited, 1987; pp. 6-9; SBN 33390-198-3
- ^ a b Minton, S. A. (1966), "A contribution to the herpetology of West Pakistan", Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 134 (2): 117–118.
- ^ Bhupathy, S. (1990), "Blotch structure in individual identification of the Indian Python (Python molurus molurus) and its possible usage in population estimation", Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 87 (3): 399–404.
- ^ R. Whitaker, A. Captain: Snakes of India, The field guide. Chennai, India: Draco Books 2004, ISBN 81-901873-0-9, p. 3, 12, 78-81.
Top View of the Head of P. molurus - ^ a b c Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
- ^ Hutchison, Victor H.; Dowling, Herndon G.; Vinegar, Allen (1966), "Thermoregulation in a Brooding Female Indian Python, Python molurus bivittatus", Science, 151 (3711): 694–695, doi:10.1126/science.151.3711.694
{{citation}}
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ignored (|name-list-style=
suggested) (help). - ^ Python molurus at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 12 July 2009.
- ^ 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
- ^ H. Bellosa, Dr. L. Dirksen, Dr. M. Auliya: "Faszination Riesenschlangen - Mythos, Fakten und Geschichten"; BLV Buchverlag GmbH & Co., 2007: pp 18-23; ISBN 978-3-8354-0282-9
Further reading
- Whitaker R. (1978). Common Indian Snakes: A Field Guide. Macmillan India Limited.
- Daniel, JC. The Book Of Indian Snakes and Reptiles. Bombay Natural History Society
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Python molurus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 13 September 2007.
- Indian Python at Ecology Asia. Accessed 13 September 2007.
- Indian python at Animal Pictures Archive. Accessed 13 September 2007.
- Watch Indian rock python (Python molurus) video clips from the BBC archive on Wildlife Finder