Python sebae
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| Python sebae (Gmelin, 1788) |
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Python sebae is a non-venomous python species found in subsaharan Africa. One of the world's largest species of snakes. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[4]
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[edit] Description
With adults reaching lengths of over 6 m (20 ft), this is one of the world's largest species of snakes[2]. The typical adult length is 4.8 m (16 ft), but reports of specimens range to as large as the 9.72 m (32.1 ft) giant caught in Bingerville, Ivory Coast in 1932.[5]
They are typically brown in color, with olive green and tan irregular blotching, fading to white on the underside. At a glance they can be easily mistaken for the Burmese python, P. molurus, but the two species are not closely related.
[edit] Geographic range
Found in Africa south of the Sahara from Senegal east to Ethiopia and Somalia, including Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Ghana, Togo, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe south to northern Namibia, Botswana and northeastern South Africa (to Natal). Extirpated from eastern Cape Province in 1927. The type locality given is "America" -- an obvious mistake. According to Loveridge (1936), no type locality was given. According to Stimson (1969) it was "Guiara, Brazil."[1]
[edit] Habitat
Typically associated with grassland and savannah habitat, not too far from water (rivers, streams, marshes), sometimes entering the edges of forests. Often occur in or near cane fields.[2]
[edit] Conservation status
While not considered endangered or threatened, this species is listed as a CITES Appendix II species, which puts restrictions on its exportation around the world. The primary reason for this is because their skin is used in the leather industry, frequently being made into shoes, belts, and purses.
[edit] Behavior
Highly dependent on sources of water, they estivate during the hottest and dryest parts of the year, remaining deep in burrows made by other animals. Noted for its bad temperament and readiness to bite if harassed. This is in contrast to the Burmese python, P. molurus, that is typically docile except when food is near.
[edit] Feeding
Opportunistic feeders, and will consume almost any animal they come across and can overpower. Young pythons eat primarily small rodents, which makes them popular with local farmers for reducing the populations of species harmful to crops, like the cane rat. However, adults are capable of taking very large prey, including young crocodiles, goats and gazelles, making them a potential danger to livestock.
[edit] Reproduction
Reproduction occurs in the spring with females laying as many as 100 eggs at a time. They guard their eggs aggressively while they incubate for 2-3 months. Hatchlings are between 45-60 cm (18-24 inches) in length and appear virtually identical to adults, except with more contrasting colors.
[edit] Captivity
This species is commonly the subject of captive breeding and is readily available in the exotic pet trade. They adapt well to captivity, feed willingly on commercially available rats and rabbits. However, their duller coloration and poor temperament generally makes their price lower than that of other python species, while their large size and voracious appetite makes them suitable only for the most experienced of large snake keepers.
[edit] Danger to humans
Attacks on humans are very uncommon. Although this species can easily kill an adult, there are only a few cases in which the victim, in most of them a child, was actually consumed. A Ugandan newspaper reported in 1951 that a 13-year-old boy was swallowed, but the python was forced to disgorge the body. In 1973 another newspaper reported that a Portuguese soldier was discovered in the stomach of a snake. In 1979 a python tried to eat a 13-year-old boy, but after being hit by stones it regurgitated the half-swallowed body and retreated. The boy was 1.3 m tall and weighed 45 kg.[6] The last known case in which a person was eaten occurred in South Africa in 2002, the victim being a 10-years-old child.[7]
[edit] Subspecies
| Subspecies[4] | Authority[4] | Common name[2] | Geographic range |
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| P. s. natalensis | Smith, 1833 | Natal rock python | Type locality: "Port Natal," South Africa. |
| P. s. sebae | (Gmelin, 1788) | African rock python |
[edit] See also
- List of pythonid species and subspecies.
- Pythonidae by common name.
- Pythonidae by taxonomic synonyms.
[edit] References
- ^ a b 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).
- ^ a b c d Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
- ^ Ditmars RL. 1933. Reptiles of the World. Revised Edition. The MacMillan Company. 329 pp. 89 plates.
- ^ a b c Python sebae (TSN 634785). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 12 September 2007.
- ^ Wood, The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. Sterling Pub Co Inc (1983), ISBN 978-0851122359
- ^ Branch WR, Hacke WD. 1980. A Fatal Attack on a Young Boy by an African Rock Python (Python sebae). Journal of Herpetology. 14:305-307.
- ^ Children terrified as python eats boy at The Age. Accessed 12 September 2007.
[edit] External links
- Python sebae at the TIGR Reptile Database. Accessed 12 September 2007.
- African Rock Python at African Rock Python. Accessed 12 September 2007.
