Bismarck ringed python
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Bismark Ringed Python, Bothrochilus boa
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| Bothrochilus boa (Schlegel, 1837) |
The Bismarck ringed python (Bothrochilus boa) is a small round-bodied python species with a head only slightly wider that the neck.
[edit] Description
Ringed pythons have black heads, and the body is dark brown patterned with wide black rings around the body. Some specimens may have black rings that are irregular, incompletely formed or even absent. Their scales are highly iridescent. Hatchlings are patterned as adults, but the brown of adults is replaced by bright orange; many keepers consider hatchling ringed pythons to be the prettiest of all the pythons. Average adult size is between 90 and 150cm.
[edit] Range
In the wild they are only found in a fairly narrow area of Papua-New Guinea, in the region of the Bismarck Archipelago. Most specimens in captivity can trade their lineage to wild caught specimens from either New Ireland or New Britain.
[edit] Behavior
They are fossorial snakes, that are often found in coconut husk piles of their rain forest habitat. When young, ringed pythons will often bite readily, but they usually settle down as they mature to become trustworthy captives. Wild caught animals are not generally available. The species appears to be well-established in captivity with several hundred ringed pythons hatching out from breeder's collections each year. Captive specimens seem to benefit if provided with a box of damp moss in which to occasionally sit. This species likes high humidity but is intolerant of poor ventilation or wet conditions.
