Children's python

Spotted Python ( Antaresia childreni )

The Spotted Python or Children 's python ( Antaresia childreni ) is a species of snake in the family of pythons ( Pythonidae ). The specific epithet childreni was awarded in honor of the British zoologist, chemist and mineralogist John George Children.

Features

The spotted python is a relatively small Pythonart with a body length of an average of about 75 cm and a maximum length of 112 cm. The body coloration is regional variation usually gray to reddish- brown with lighter flanks and dark brown, in rows arranged transverse bands and spots. The head consists only moderately from the neck and is on the top most solid brown. A dark brown band extends from the temporal corner of the mouth over the eye to the nostril. In general, the juveniles are darker with clearer drawing in older animals faded coloring. In the northern area of the range, there are also uniformly dark brown individuals.

From 10 to 14 Infralabialschilden have the seventh to tenth sense pits 10 to 12 are Supralabialschilde without pits. The hull has 35 to 44 oblique rows of scales, 240-295 abdominal and 37-40 tail shields, as well as an undivided anal shield.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in northern Australia from the north-east of Western Australia to the north-west Queensland, and on some offshore islands. They inhabited a variety of habitats, from coastal rainforests to deserts inland and also occurs in the immediate vicinity of human settlements.

Life and reproduction

The spotted python is mainly ground -dwelling and nocturnal. The range of prey including lizards, frogs, birds and small mammals. Mating occurs in the cooler months from May to August, the males perform ritualized fights for the females out. The 7 to 15 eggs are laid in September or October and wrapped by females. After fertilization, keep the pregnant females by seeking warm places a higher and more stable body temperature. After oviposition, the fabric is wrapped around the female, which probably does not lead to further warming, but has a reduced water loss. The approximately 25 cm long juveniles hatch in December.

Swell

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