Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Burmese Python
A non-venomous snake but with a striking hunting strategy.
Common name – Burmese python.
Scientific name – Python bivittatus
Type – Reptilia
Size – 16 feet – 23 feet
Appearance, Habitat and Habit –
A snake with dark brown blocks bordered with black and light brown colour on the surface of its body is found in the countries of India, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, China, etc.
The female Burmese python is larger and heavier than the male Burmese python. This snake can be seen Climbing on trees in Rainforests, grasslands, woodlands, Rocky foothills, and less dense jungles. It is also seen swimming or just submerged in water bodies for almost 30 minutes like River valleys, and swamps.
‘Sit and wait’ Hunting Predator –
This snake is a Carnivore. It just eats meat from Birds, Mammals, Frogs and small reptiles.
The Tail of this snake is very prehensile. Picture this snake hiding in its area, waiting still for its prey to come around. Once the prey is nearby, it catches and strikes the prey with one bite and traps it coiling around it, constricting the prey and swallows it. Due to this strategy of hiding and waiting for prey to come near it, this snake is called as ‘Sit and Wait’ Predator.
The snake feed upon the vermins and dwells in the presence of Rats and rodents. This snake feeds on them before they destroy crops.
Brumation and Breeding –
This cold-blooded snake goes into Dormancy which is called as a resting phase.
Brumation is a term described for these dormant cold-blooded snakes. They brumate in Tree holes, Riverbank holes, and below rocks. They save their energy for the breeding season.
The breeding season appears in March and April. Females lay 12-36 eggs. She wraps herself around the eggs to provide a favourable rise in temperature.
Hatchling emerge by cutting the eggshell with its tooth. There is no specific maternal care for hatchlings.
Hatchlings live in the eggshell until they shred their skin for the first time and are ready to hunt with new skin.
Conservation Status –
The Burmese Python is a non-venomous snake that became vulnerable in 2012 due to habitat destruction and degradation.
The research is in the process to save the number of Burmese Pythons.
Also See ⇒ Boiga Facts