Morelia amethistina

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Morelia amethistina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Pythonidae Genus: Morelia Species: M. amethistina
Binomial name
Morelia amethistina (Schneider, 1801)
Synonyms
[Boa] Amethistina - Schneider, 1801 Python amethystinus - Daudin, 1803 [Constrictor] amethystina - Wagler, 1830 Boa amethystina - Wagler, 1830 Python amethystinus - Schlegel, 1837 [Boa Python] amethystinus - Schlegel, 1837 Liasis amethystinus - Gray, 1842 Liasis amethystinus - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron Liasis (Simalia) amethystinus - Gray, 1849 Aspidopython Jakati - Meyer, 1874 Liasis amethystinus - Peters & Doria, 1878 Liasis duceboracensis - Günther, 1879 Hypaspistes dipsadides - Ogilby, 1891 Python amethystinus - Boulenger, 1893 Liasis clarki - Barbour, 1914 Liasis a[methistinus]. amethistinus - Stull, 1933 Liasis amethistinus kinghorni - Stull, 1933 Liasis amethistinus - Brongersma, 1953 Liasis amethystinus kinghorni - Kinghorn, 1956 Liasis amethystinus amethystinus - Kinghorn, 1956 Liasis amethistinus - Stimson, 1969 Python amethistinus - McDowell, 1975 Morelia amethistina - Cogger, Cameron & Cogger, 1983 Australiasis amethistinus - Wells & Wellington, 1984 Australiasis kinghorni - Wells & Wellington, 1984 Morelia amethistina - Underwood & Stimson, 1990 M[orelia]. amethistina - Kluge, 1993 Morelia amethystina - Barker & Barker, 1994 Morelia amethistina amethistina - O'Shae, 1996 Morelia amethistina kinghorni - O'Shae, 1996[1]

Common names: amethystine python, scrub python.

Morelia amethistina is a non-venomous python species found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, this is also the largest snake in Australia. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[2]

Contents 1 Description 2 Geographic range 3 Habitat 4 Behavior 5 Feeding 6 Taxonomy 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Description

Specimens have been measured at more than 8.5 m in length, but this is quite exceptional, as 5.5 m specimens are already considered large. The body is relatively slim, unlike many other large members of this family. The specific name, amethistina, is an allusion to the milky iridescent sheen on its scales, which gives it an amethyst-like color.

[edit] Geographic range

Found in 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). The type locality is unknown.^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Occurs in both bushland and suburbia. In Indonesia and northern tropical Queensland, Australia, it is found mostly in rainforests. Warm, humid habitats with good water sources are preferred.

[edit] Behavior

Largely nocturnal. Younger individuals are mainly arboreal, while large adults spend more time on the ground. Male amethystine pythons are aggressive towards one another during the mating season and at such times will engage in combat.

[edit] Feeding

The diet generally consists of birds, fruit bats, rats, possums, and other small animals.

[edit] Taxonomy

According to McDiarmid et al. (1999), all cases in which the specific name was spelled with a y follow Daudin's (1803) Python amethystinus and are therefore unjustified emendations.^[1]

[edit] See also

• List of pythonid species and subspecies.
• Pythonidae by common name.
• Pythonidae by taxonomic synonyms.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Morelia amethistina at the TIGR Reptile Database. Accessed 18 September 2007.
• Amethystine python at Bristol Zoo. Accessed 18 September 2007.