Apodora

Papua Python ( Apodora papuana )

The Papua Python ( Apodora papuana ) is the only species of the genus Apodora from the family of pythons.

Description

The Papua Python is a stocky snake with short, weak remote from the neck head. With an average length of 1.6 to 3.6 meters and a maximum length of 4.27 meters, it is the second largest snake in the notogäischen region. The head is gray with black -rimmed head shields, lips and throat are slightly powdered dark. The body is yellowish to brown, darker towards the back and lighter on the belly.

On the large frontal plate boundaries, two pairs of Präfrontalia. The head side of a large Supraokularschild, a parietal, interparietal three and a single Lorealschilde are available. The mouth is surrounded ten or eleven Supralabialschilde and 16 to 20 Infralabialschilde. The hull in the center has 63 to 72 rows of smooth scales, and a total of 358-374 Ventralschilde and 82 to 88 split Subkaudalschilde on.

Circulation area and way of life

The distribution area is restricted to New Guinea and its offshore, smaller islands. She lives there, mainly the low-lying savannas and monsoon forest. The species is primarily nocturnal. Prey are mostly mammals but also other snakes, where they also not afraid of their own species. Also Keratophagie, the rather unusual for snakes eating the stripped skin was observed. Little is known about the propagation of the species, the females lay eggs like all pythons.

Swell

• Ludwig Trutnau: Non-toxic snakes, Part 1 4th edition. Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Co., Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3223-0.