Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Indian Python
I am the heaviest snake found in the wild,
Until the prey arrives near me, I hide.
Indian Python is also known as the Black-tailed Python, Indian Rock and Asian Rock Python.
Scientific name– Python morulus.
This snake’s height is around 3 meters.
Distribution
Indian Python is a Non-venomous snake found in Tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Habitat-
Indian Python is located in Grasslands,Savvanahs, Riparian Forests and Shrublands. They rest in abandoned mammal burrows, hollow trees, water reeds, and mangrove thickets.
They are nocturnal, mostly active during the night. They dwell solitarily in Terrestrial habitats. They are great climbers on the branches of trees and good swimmers and are seen submerged in the waterbody.
Indian Pythons Hibernate in the cold season. They are lethargic and less aggressive to attack in this season.
How to recognize the Indian Python snake in Wild?
Pythons are Heavyweight with a flat heads. Indian python has a pinkish-brown neck with a faint grey mark on top. Eyes have an elliptical shape. The body is covered with large, irregular dark brown, grey-black blotches or light grey or brown groundc olour. The sides are lined with off-white small patches. The underside of the Indian python is creamy white.
What does an Indian Python snake eat?
These Carnivorous snakes feed on mammals, birds, amphibians and Reptiles.
Indian Pythons are ambush predators. They will hide for a long time and wait to attack till the prey arrives.
Reproduction –
After mating Female lays eggs in 3-4 months.
The clutch is 100 eggs. Incubation takes 2-3 months. Female protection of the eggs.
Hatchlings are 45cm-60cm long.
The individuals reach Sexual maturity within 2-3 months.
Threats and Ecological importance.
Indian Python is a non-venomous snake, known as a Farmer’s friend as it eats rodents and animals that venture around the agricultural produce.
Although these Indian Pythons are in threat due to Habitat destruction as well as the direct threat of being hunted for skin, leather and meat.
This is why, the population status of Indian Python is ‘Near Threatened’, as their existence is about to get endangered.
- Also See – King Cobra