Pythonidae
Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)
The Pythons ( Pythonidae; . AltGr Πύθων Python; singular technical language of, colloquially also the Python) are a family of snakes from the superfamily of Pythonoidae. Due to physical features they have been combined with the long boa snakes as boas, with current genetic studies cast doubt on the close relationship of the two families. In relation to family or subfamily is also called pythons. Also as pythons, the representatives of the genus Actual pythons (Python) are referred to.
System
While the pythons because of physical characteristics with the families boa snakes ( Boinae ) and the sand boas ( Erycinae ) were typically summarized as constrictors in the superfamily of snake -like, refute current genetic studies of this close relationship. Finally, the classification of snakes is not yet clear, but several studies agree concur in representing that the closest relatives of pythons ( Pythonidae ) the family of red-tailed pythons ( Loxocemidae ) and the family of Erdschlangen ( Xenopeltidae ). Together they form thus the superfamily Pythonoidae. The two families Loxocemidae and Xenopeltidae hitherto basal to the giant snakes group, for example, Lee et al. 14 describes morphological differences. Which of these differences for the new array are still valid, studies have yet to show.
The Pythonidae itself includes a total of 41 species in 9 genera:
- Südpythons ( Antaresia )
- Papua pythons ( Apodora )
- Schwarzkopf pythons ( Aspidites )
- Dwarf pythons ( Bothrochilus )
- Broghammerus
- White-lipped python ( Leiopython )
- Water pythons ( Liasis )
- Diamond python ( Morelia)
- Actual pythons (Python)
The genera Morelia and Python are the two most species, the genera Apodora and Bothrochilus are monotypic, ie contain only one kind, the genus was Broghammerus 2008 by Rawlings et al. introduced by a division of the genus Python, and includes the reticulated python ( Broghammerus reticulatus ) and the Timor python ( Broghammerus timoriensis ).
Dissemination
The pythons are inhabitants of the Old World, where they occur mainly in Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Australia. The distribution areas are mainly in the tropics: the Tropic of Cancer is achieved by the two Asians Python molurus and Python bivittatus, in Africa lives a kind in Asia several south of the Tropic of Capricorn. In the Miocene also lived in Europe pythons.
For several years, the rock python has established through illegal suspensions as neozoon in Florida.
Reproduction
Pythons are oviparous, that is, in contrast to the Boidae oviparous ovoviviparous. Python females lay depending on the type from two to over 100 eggs. The females operate a special form of parental care. They lie until hatching of the young animals in loops around her clutch. It can be shown that the temperature inside the scrim on the outside temperature. A number of species generates heat by shivering.
Features
The smallest species of the genus Südpythons ( Antaresia perthensis ) is only about 70-90 inches long. Some species of the genera of the authentics pythons (Python) and Broghammerus are secured with maximum lengths of over six meters of the largest snakes in the world.
Pythons are non-toxic and kill their prey by looping. All pythons have a pit organ, that can detect infrared rays and so also hunt in the dark. The snakes of the genus Antaresia are the Labialgruben, unlike all other snakes of this family, not visible from the outside. While it was previously assumed that in Antaresia no Labialgruben are present and the species is therefore an early stage of development of pythons, recent studies show that even with these snakes a Labialgrube under the Rostral is available.
Protection status
Most types of Pythonidae are listed in the European species protection regulation and may be held without permission. According to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance, however, the attitude of the competent state authority over is notifiable.
Python molurus molurus, the bright Tiger Python is performed in Appendix A of the European species protection regulation and may not be held without permission.