Morelia (genus)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Morelia
Diamond python, M. spilota
Diamond python, M. spilota
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Morelia
Gray, 1842
Synonyms
  • Morelia - Gray, 1842
  • Simalia - Gray, 1849
  • Chondropython - Meyer, 1874
  • Aspidopython - Meyer, 1874
  • Hypaspistes - Ogilby, 1819
  • Australiasis - Wells & Wellington, 1984
  • Nyctophylopython - Wells & Wellington, 1984[1]
  • Montypythonoides - Smith and Plane, 1985[2]
Common names: (none).

Morelia is a genus of non-venomous pythons found in Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. Currently, 7 species are recognized.[3]

Contents

[edit] Description

In general, these snakes are arboreal to semi-arboreal, spending much of their life in the forest canopy. Although there are exceptions, most attain adult lengths of 2–3 m (5–8 feet). They are the only known predators of frill-necked lizards.

[edit] Geographic range

Found from Indonesia in the Maluku Islands, east through New Guinea, including the Bismark Archipelago and in Australia.[1]

[edit] Species

Species[3] Authority[3] Subsp.*[3] Common name Geographic range[1]
M. amethistina (Schneider, 1801) 0 Amethystine python Indonesia (Maluku Islands, Timorlaut Islands, Banda, Kai Islands, Aru Islands, Misool, Selawati, most of Western New Guinea, many islands in Geelvink Bay), Papua New Guinea (including Umboi Island, Bismarck Archipelago, Trobriand Islands, the d'Entrecasteaux Islands to Rossel Island, Louisiade Archipelago), and Australia (on some islands in the Torres Strait, the northern Cape York Peninsula south including the Atherton Tableland and the eastern foothills of the Great Dividing Range).
M. boeleni (Brongersma, 1953) 0 Boelen's python Indonesia (Western New Guinea in the Wissel Lakes region) and Papua New Guinea (the provinces of Eastern Highlands, Central and Morobe, and Goodenough Island).
M. bredli (Gow, 1981) 0 Bredl's python Australia, in the mountains of southern Northern Territory.
M. carinata (L.A. Smith, 1981) 0 Rough-scaled python Australia, northwestern Western Australia in the lower sections of the Mitchell and Hunter rivers, just inland from the coast.
M. oenpelliensis (Gow, 1977) 0 Oenpelli python Australia, Northern Territory, in the sandstone outcrops of western Arnhem Land.
M. spilotaT (Lacépède, 1804) 5 Carpet python Indonesia (southern Western New Guinea in Merauke Regency), Papua New Guinea (southern Western Province, the Port Moresby area of Central Province and on Yule Island) and Australia (excluding southern Victoria and much of the center and the west of the country).
M. viridis (Schlegel, 1872) 0 Green tree python Indonesia (Misool, Salawati, Aru Islands, Schouten Islands, most of Western New Guinea), Papua New Guinea (including nearby islands from sea level to 1,800 m elevation, Normanby Island and the d'Entrecasteaux Islands) and Australia (Queensland along the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula).

*) Not including the nominate subspecies (typical form).
T) Type species.[1]

[edit] Taxonomy

An extinct species, M. riversleighensis, from the Miocene of Australia, was at one time known as Montypythonoides riversleighensis, after the comedy team.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d 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).
  2. ^ a b Scanlon, J.D. (2001). "Riversleigh Symposium 1998: Proceedings of a Research Symposium on Fossils from Riversleigh and Murgon, Queensland, held at the University of New South Wales, December, 1998": 1–35. 
  3. ^ a b c d Morelia (TSN 209585). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 10 September 2007.

[edit] External links