Python molurus

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Python molurus

Conservation status

Near Threatened (IUCN 2.3)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pythonidae
Genus:	Python
Species:	P. molurus

Binomial name

Python molurus
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms

[Coluber] Molurus - Linnaeus, 1758
Boa Ordinata - Schneider, 1801
Boa Cinerae - Schneider, 1801
Boa Castanea - Schneider, 1801
Boa Albicans - Schneider, 1801
Boa Orbiculata - Schneider, 1801
Coluber Boaeformis - Shaw, 1802
Python bora - Daudin, 1803
Python tigris - Daudin, 1803
Python tigris castaneus - Daudin, 1803
Python tigris albanicus - Daudin, 1803
Python ordinatus - Daudin, 1803
Python Javanicus - Kuhl, 1820
Python molurus - Gray, 1842
Python Jamesonii - Gray, 1842
Python (Asterophis) tigris - Fitzinger, 1843
Python molurus - Boulenger, 1893
Python molurus [molurus] - Werner, 1899
[Python molurus] var. ocellatus - Werner, 1899
[Python molurus] var. intermedia - Werner, 1899
Python molurus molurus - Stull, 1935
Python molurus - M.A. Smith, 1943
Python molurus pimbura - Deraniyagala, 1945
Python molurus molurus - Stimson, 1969
[Python molurus] var. [molurus] - Deuve, 1970
Python molurus - Kluge, 1993^[1]

Common names: Indian python,^[2] black-tailed python,^[3] Indian rock python, more.

Python molurus is a non-venomous python species found in southern Asia. This is the largest snake species found in India. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.^[2]

1 Description
2 Common names
3 Geographic range
4 Conservation status
5 Habitat
6 Behavior
7 Feeding
8 Reproduction
9 Subspecies
10 Taxonomy
11 Gallery
12 See also
13 References
14 Further reading
15 External links

[edit] Description

Comparison of molurus and bivittatus

Adults grow to an average length of 4 m and weigh an average of 70 to 129+ pounds. Their relative girth exceeds that of all other snakes. The longest recorded specimen measured 5.85 m (19 ft 2 in) (Cooch-Behar, West Bengal). Their scales are smooth and generally glossy for a snake in good condition. They have a flattened head with large nostrils, directed upwards and situated high on the snout. Their eyes are small and the pupil vertical, with the iris apparently flecked with gold. Pythons have what are commonly called spurs; vestigial or rudimentary limbs situated on either side of the anal vent.

The color pattern is whitish or yellowish with the blotched patterns varying from shades of yellow to dark brown. This varies with terrain and habitat. Specimens from the hill forests of Western Ghats and Assam are darker, while those from the Deccan Plateau and East Coast are usually lighter.^[4]

[edit] Common names

Indian python,^[2] black-tailed python,^[3] Indian rock python, light phase asian rock python.^[5]^[6] Referred to as "Ajgar" in Hindi.

[edit] Geographic range

Distribution: Red = P. m. molurus; Purple = P. m. pimbura (not accepted as a valid subspecies; to P. m. molurus); Green = P. m. bivittatus; Yellow = possible intergradation.^[7]

Found in 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). The type locality given is "Indiis."^[1]

[edit] Conservation status

This species is classified as Lower Risk/Near Threatened (LR/nt) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1994).^[8] This means that it has been evaluated, but does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. However, it is considered Near Threatened (nt), meaning that it does not qualify for Conservation Dependent, but is close to qualifying for Vulnerable. Year assessed: 1996.^[9]

These snakes have often been killed for their fine skin and are endangered. They are now partly protected by the Tamil Nadu Government. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the meat is eaten by locals as the fat is purported to have medicinal value.

[edit] Habitat

P. m. molurus, basking in front of its hole in Keoladeo National Park, India.

Occurs in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, swamps, marshes, rocky foothills, woodlands, "open" jungle and river valleys. They depend on a permanent source of water.^[10] Sometimes they can be found in abandoned mammal burrows, hollow trees, dense water reeds and mangrove thickets.^[4]

[edit] Behavior

P. m. molurus in Keoladeo National Park, India.

Lethargic and slow moving even in its native habitat, they exhibit little timidity and rarely try to escape even when attacked. Locomotion is usually rectilinear, with the body moving in a straight line. They are very good swimmers and are quite at home in water. They can be wholly submerged in water for many minutes if necessary, but usually prefer to remain near the bank.

[edit] Feeding

These snakes feed on mammals, birds and reptiles indiscriminately, but seem to prefer mammals. Roused to activity on sighting prey, the snake will advance with quivering tail and lunge with open mouth. Live prey is constricted and killed. One or two coils are used to hold it in a tight grip. The prey, unable to breathe, succumbs and is subsequently swallowed head first. After a heavy meal, they are disinclined to move. If forced to, hard parts of the meal may tear through the body. Therefore, if disturbed, some specimens will disgorge their meal in order to escape from potential predators. After a heavy meal, an individual may fast for weeks; the longest recorded duration being 2 years.

So far there have been no authentic cases of a human being eaten by this species.^[5]

[edit] Reproduction

Oviparous, up to 100 eggs are laid, protected and incubated by the female.^[10] Towards this end, it has been shown that they are capable of raising their body temperature above the ambient level through muscular contractions.^[11] The hatchlings are 45-60 cm (18-24 in) in length and grow quickly.^[10]

[edit] Subspecies

Subspecies^[2]	Taxon author^[2]	Common name^[5]	Geographic range^[7]^[6]
P. m. bivittatus	Kuhl, 1820	Burmese python	Eastern India and Nepal into Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, Vietnam and eastwards to southern China and Hainan. Absent from Borneo and Sumatra, but present on Java, Sulawesi and the small Sunda islands of Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa.
P. m. molurus	(Linnaeus, 1758)	Indian python	Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bengal, Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

[edit] Taxonomy

In the literature, one other subspecies may be encountered: P. m. pimbura (Deraniyagala, 1945), which is found in Sri Lanka.

[edit] Gallery

Head scalation.

Skeleton.

Skull diagram.

Head

[edit] See also

[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 ^e Python molurus (TSN 202187). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 13 September 2007.
^ ^a ^b Ditmars RL. 1933. Reptiles of the World. Revised Edition. The MacMillan Company. 329 pp. 89 plates.
^ ^a ^b Rhomulus Whitaker: „Common Indian Snakes – A Field Guide“; The Macmillan Company of India Limited, 1987; pp. 6-9; SBN 33390-198-3
^ ^a ^b ^c Jerry G. Walls: "The Living Pythons";T. F. H. Publications, 1998: pp. 131-142; ISBN 0-7938-0467-1
^ ^a ^b Mark O’Shea: „Boas and Pythons of the World“; New Holland Publishers, 2007; pp 80-87; ISBN 978-1-84537-544-7
^ ^a ^b H. Bellosa, Dr. L. Dirksen, Dr. M. Auliya: "Faszination Riesenschlangen - Mythos, Fakten und Geschichten"; BLV Buchverlag GmbH & Co., 2007: pp 18-23; ISBN 978-3-8354-0282-9
^ Python molurus at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
^ 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
^ Victor H. Hutchison, Herndon G. Dowling, and Allen Vinegar 1966 Thermoregulation in a Brooding Female Indian Python, Python molurus bivittatus. Science 151(3711):694 - 695

[edit] Further reading

Whitaker R. (1978). Common Indian Snakes: A Field Guide, Macmillan India Limited.
Daniel, JC. The Book Of Indian Snakes and Reptiles. Bombay Natural History Society

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Python molurus

Python molurus at the TIGR Reptile Database. Accessed 13 September 2007.
Indian Python at Ecology Asia. Accessed 13 September 2007.
Indian python at Animal Pictures Archive. Accessed 13 September 2007.

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