Morelia bredli

Morelia bredli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Morelia
Species: M. bredli
Binomial name
Morelia bredli
(Gow, 1981)
Synonyms
  • Python bredli Gow, 1981
  • Morelia bredli – H.G. Cogger, Cameron & H.M. Cogger, 1983[1]
Common names: Bredl's python, Centralian python, Centralian carpet python, central Australian carpet python, Bredl's carpet python, central Australian Bredl's carpet python, central Bredl's carpet python.

Morelia bredli is a non-venomous python species found in Australia. No subspecies are currently recognized.[2]

Etymology

The specific name, bredli, is in honor of Australian crocodile conservationist Josef "Joe" Bredl (1948–2007), older brother of "the barefoot bushman", Rob Bredl.[3]

Description

This is a heavily built species with adults approaching or exceeding 2 m (6 ft 5 in) in total length (including tail). Many captive specimens have been recorded at 3 m (9 ft 9 in) and slightly longer. The color pattern consists of a brown to reddish ground color with a highly variable pattern of pale intrusions. There are normally black borders around the intrusions that become more extensive around the tail. The belly is yellowish to pale cream.[4]

Geographic range

M. bredli is found in Australia, in the mountains of southern Northern Territory. The type locality given is "Pitchie Ritchie Park, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia (23°42', 133°51')".[1]

Habitat

Prefers very arid desert areas. Normally arboreal, inhabiting ranges and rocky outcrops.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ↑ "Morelia bredli". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  3. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Morelia bredli, pp. 37-38).
  4. ↑ Centralian Carpet Python, Morelia spilota bredli at the Snake Ranch. Accessed 11 April 2008.

Further reading

External links