Python molurus

Python molurus
Near Nagarhole National Park
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
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)
Distribution of Indian python
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 [sic] - 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] - F. Werner, 1899 [Python molurus] var. ocellatus F. Werner, 1899 [Python molurus] var. intermedia F. 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]

Python molurus is a large nonvenomous python species found in many tropic and subtropic areas of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is known by the common names Indian python,^[2] black-tailed python^[3] and Indian rock python. The species is limited to Southern Asia. It is generally lighter colored than the Burmese python and reaches usually 3 metres (9.8 ft).^[4]

Common names

Indian python,^[2] black-tailed python,^[3] Indian rock python, Asian rock python.^[5][6] Referred to as "Ajingar" in Nepali,"Ajgar" in Hindi and Marathi,"Ajagara" in Odiya, "Azdaha" in Urdu and "অজগর (Awjogor)", "মেঘডম্বুর (Meghdombur)" & "মেগডুম (Megdum)" in Bengali. In Sri Lanka the species is commonly referred to as "Pimbura-පිඹුරා" in Sinhala. The subspecies Python molurus pimbura was thought to have stemmed from the alias given in Sri Lanka, however the pimbura, or Ceylonese Python is no longer considered a valid subspecies or locality and are known and registered as the same animal.

Description

The color pattern is whitish or yellowish with the blotched patterns varying from shades of tan 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.^[7]

In Pakistan, Indian Pythons commonly reach a length of 2.4–3 metres (7.9–9.8 ft).^[8] In India, the nominate subspecies grows to 3 metres (9.8 ft) on average ^[4][7] This value is supported by a 1990 study in Keoladeo National Park, where the biggest 25% of the python population was 2.7–3.3 metres (8.9–10.8 ft) long. Only two specimen even measured nearly 3.6 metres (11.8 ft).^[9] Because of confusion with the Burmese python, exaggerations and stretched skins in the past, the maximum length of this subspecies is hard to tell. The longest scientifically recorded specimen, which hailed from Pakistan, was 4.6 metres (15.1 ft) in length and weighed 52 kilograms (115 lb).^[8]

Geographic range

The nominate subspecies is found in India, southern Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and probably in the north of Myanmar.^[10]

Habitat

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.^[11] Sometimes they can be found in abandoned mammal burrows, hollow trees, dense water reeds and mangrove thickets.^[7]

Behavior

Lethargic and slow moving even in its native habitat, they exhibit timidity and rarely try to attack even when attacked. Locomotion is usually rectilinear, with the body moving in a straight line. They are excellent 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.

Feeding

Like all snakes, Indian pythons are strict carnivores and 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. The python can swallow prey bigger than its diameter because the jaw bones are not connected. Moreover, prey cannot escape from its mouth because of the arrangement of the teeth (which are reverse saw-like).

Reproduction

Oviparous, up to 100 eggs are laid by the animal, which are protected and incubated by the female.^[11] Towards this end, it has been shown that they are capable of raising their body temperature above the ambient level through muscular contractions.^[12] The hatchlings are 45–60 cm (18–24 in) in length and grow quickly.^[11] An artificial incubation method using climate-controlled environmental chambers was developed in India for successfully raising hatchlings from abandoned or un-attended eggs^[13]

Conservation status

The Indian Python is classified as Lower Risk/Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1996).^[14] This listing indicates that it may become threatened with extinction and is in need of frequent reassessment.^[15]

Taxonomy

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

The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) was referred to as a subspecies of the Indian python until 2009, when it was elevated to full species status.^[16] The name Python molurus bivittatus is found in older literature.

Gallery

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  Python molurus (colour mutations) Huntington Beach, CA

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  Python molurus with colour mutations

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  From San Diego zoo

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  From Dahod (Gujarat), India

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  Labial Pits of P. molurus. Specimen at Ezhimala, Kerala, India.

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  Indian rock python with clearly visible body pattern.

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

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  Head scalation.

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  From Gujarat

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  From Dahod(Gujarat)

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  Skeleton

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  Head

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  P. m. molurus swallowing a Chital deer fawn, Mudumalai National Park

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

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  Top view of the head of P. molurus

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  Clutch of Python molurus eggs

See also

• List of pythonid species and subspecies.
• Pythonidae by common name.
• Pythonidae by taxonomic synonyms.

References

1. 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).
2. "Python molurus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
3. Ditmars RL. 1933. Reptiles of the World. Revised Edition. The MacMillan Company. 329 pp. 89 plates.
4. Wall, F. (1912), "A popular treatise on the common Indian snakes – The Indian Python", Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 21: 447–476.
5. Jerry G. Walls: "The Living Pythons";T. F. H. Publications, 1998: pp. 131-142; ISBN 0-7938-0467-1
6. Mark O’Shea: „Boas and Pythons of the World“; New Holland Publishers, 2007; pp 80-87; ISBN 978-1-84537-544-7
7. Rhomulus Whitaker: „Common Indian Snakes – A Field Guide“; The Macmillan Company of India Limited, 1987; pp. 6-9; SBN 33390-198-3
8. Minton, S. A. (1966), "A contribution to the herpetology of West Pakistan", Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 134 (2): 117–118.
9. Bhupathy, S. (1990), "Blotch structure in individual identification of the Indian Python (Python molurus molurus) and its possible usage in population estimation", Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 87 (3): 399–404.
10. R. Whitaker, A. Captain: Snakes of India, The field guide. Chennai, India: Draco Books 2004, ISBN 81-901873-0-9, p. 3, 12, 78-81.
11. Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
12. Hutchison, Victor H.; Dowling, Herndon G. & Vinegar, Allen (1966), "Thermoregulation in a Brooding Female Indian Python, Python molurus bivittatus", Science 151 (3711): 694–695, doi:10.1126/science.151.3711.694.
13. Balakrishnan, Peroth; Sajeev, T.V; Bindu, T.N (2010). "Artificial incubation, hatching and release of the Indian Rock Python Python molurus (Linnaeus, 1758), in Nilambur, Kerala." (PDF). Reptile Rap 10: 24–27.
14. Python molurus at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 12 July 2009.
15. 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
16. Jacobs, H.J.; Auliya, M.; Böhme, W. (2009). "On the taxonomy of the Burmese Python, Python molurus bivittatus KUHL, 1820, specifically on the Sulawesi population". Sauria 31 (3): 5–11.

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

External links

• Python molurus at the Reptarium.cz 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.
• Watch Indian rock python (Python molurus) video clips from the BBC archive on Wildlife Finder