| Python | |
|---|---|
| Burmese python, Python molurus bivittatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pythonidae |
| Genus: | Python Daudin, 1803 |
| Synonyms | |
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Python, from the Greek word (πύθων/πύθωνας), is a genus of non-venomous pythons found in Africa, Asia and Australia. Currently, 7 species are recognised.[2] A member of this group, P. reticulatus, is among the longest snakes known.
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Found in Africa in the tropics south of the Sahara, but not in southern Africa, the extreme southwestern tip, or in Madagascar. In Asia it is found from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, including the Nicobar Islands, through Myanmar, east to Indochina, southern China, Hong Kong and Hainan, as well as in the Malayan region of Indonesia and the Philippines.[1]
P. molurus and P. sebae are both invasive species in North America, and they are becoming quite abundant in South Florida and the Everglades.[3]
| Species[2] | Taxon author[2] | Subsp.*[2] | Common name | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P. anchietae | Bocage, 1887 | 0 | Angolan python | Africa in southern Angola and northern Namibia. |
| P. curtus | Schlegel, 1872 | 2 | Short-tailed python | Southeast Asia in southern Thailand, Malaysia (Peninsular and Sarawak) (including Pinang) and Indonesia (Sumatra, Riau Archipelago, Lingga Islands, Bangka Islands, Mentawai Islands and Kalimantan). |
| P. molurusT | (Linnaeus, 1758) | 1 | Indian python | Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China, (Sichuan and Yunnan east to Fujian, Hainan, Hong Kong), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Peninsula Malaysia and Indonesia (Java, Sumbawa, Sulawesi). |
| P. regius | (Shaw, 1802) | 0 | Ball Python/ Royal Python | Africa from Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Niger and Nigeria through Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic to Sudan and Uganda. |
| P. reticulatus | (Schneider, 1801) | 0 | Reticulated python | Southeast Asia from the Nicobar Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, east through Indonesia and the Indo-Australian Archipelago (Sumatra, Mentawai Islands, Natuna Islands, Borneo, Sulawesi, Java, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Timor, Maluku, Tanimbar Islands) and the Philippines (Basilan, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Polillo, Samar, Tawi-Tawi). |
| P. sebae | (Gmelin, 1788) | 1 | African rock python | 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). |
| P. timoriensis | (Peters, 1876) | 0 | Timor python | Indonesia on the Lesser Sunda Islands (Flores, Lombien and Timor Islands). |
*) Not including the nominate subspecies.
T) Type species.[1]
Python skin is used to manufacture the Erhu, a popular Chinese instrument.
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