Morelia spilota mcdowelli

Coastal carpet python
Morelia spilota mcdowelli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Morelia
Species: M. spilota
Subspecies: M. s. mcdowelli
Trinomial name
Morelia spilota mcdowelli
Wells & Wellington, 1984
Synonyms
  • Morelia mcdowelli - Wells & Wellington, 1984
  • Morelia spilota mcdowelli - Barker & Barker, 1994[1]

Morelia spilota mcdowelli is a subspecies of Morelia spilota, commonly known as the carpet python, and is informally named the Eastern, Coastal or McDowell's Carpet python.[2][3] The original description and name was published by Wells and Wellington in 1984.[4] It occurs along the northeastern coast of Australia and in New Guinea.

Contents

Description

This is a subspecies of Morelia spilota and usually attains lengths of 2.7-over 3 m in length(9–10 feet).

The scales along the lower jaw are pitted. olive brown with darker blotches and stripes. the pattern and colour are variable. midbody scales in 40-60 rows. single anal scale subcaudal scales divided. most of the head scales are small. beadlike and arranged irregularly.

habitat and range

widespread inAustralia in eastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. The type locality given is "Terania Creek, N.S.W." (New South Wales, Australia).[1] they may be encountered on the ground, draped across boughs of trees or just coiled up in undergrowth. they are frequently found residing in the roofs of houses even in well settled suburban areas. Rainforest, wet or dry eucalypt forest, heathland, pasture, agricultural and urban areas.

Notes

they are active by day or night (nocturnal and dinural) feeding mainly on "warm blooded" prey like possums, rats, flying foxes and birds. occasionally poultry domestic cats and small dogs. attempts on eating cane toads are fatal. they lay up to 47 eggs. unpredictable behavior sometimes aggressive. bites are not poisnous however the bites can cause lacerations. tetanus protection is recommended.

Taxonomy

Placed in synonymy by Underwood and Stimson (1990).[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ Morelia spilota at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 17 September 2007.
  3. ^ "Carpet pythons (Morelia spilotes sp.)". Care Sheet. Monaro Amphibian & Reptile Keepers (MARK). http://www.mark.org.au/pages/cs_carpetpython.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-20. 
  4. ^ "Morelia spilota mcdowelli". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=635068. Retrieved 15 February 2008. 

External links