Dictionary of Meaning
<<Back
Please select a letter:
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
0-9
Click here for Shopping
Python
*** Shopping-Tip: Python
:
''This article is about the snake. For the programming language, see Python programming language. For other uses, see Python (disambiguation).''
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Python
| image = Python royal 35.JPG
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption =
Ball python, ''Python regius''
| regnum =
Animalia
| phylum =
Chordate Chordata
| classis =
Reptile Reptilia
| subclassis =
Lepidosauria
| ordo =
Squamata
| subordo =
Serpentes
| superfamilia =
Ophidia
| familia =
Boidae
| subfamilia =
Pythonidae
| genus = '''''Python'''''
| genus_authority =
Francois-Marie Daudin Daudin, 1803
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
''
Aspidites''
''
Antaresia''
''
Apodora''
''
Bothrochilus''
''
Leiopython''
''
Liasis''
''
Morelia''
''Python''
}}
'''Python''' is the common name for the
Boidae Family (biology) family of
Venom (poison) non-venomous constricting snakes—specifically the subfamily Pythonidae. There is also a
genus within Pythonidae which carries the name ''Python''.
Species
'''Genus''' ''
Aspidites''
*
Black-headed Python, ''
Aspidites melanocephalus'' (
G. Krefft Krefft,
1864)
*
Woma Python, ''
Aspidites ramsayi'' (
W. Macleay Macleay,
1882)
'''Genus''' ''
Antaresia''
*
Children's python Children's Python, ''
Antaresia childreni'' (
John Edward Gray Gray,
1842)
*
Spotted python Spotted Python, ''
Antaresia maculosa'' (
Wilhem Carl Hartwig Peters Peters,
1873)
*Pygmy Python, ''
Antaresia perthensis'' (
O.G. Stull Stull,
1932)
*Stimson's Python, ''
Antaresia stimsoni'' (
L.A. Smith Smith,
1985)
Image:Leiopython_albertisii.jpg 250px|thumb|White-lipped Python, ''Leiopython albertisii''
'''Genus''' ''
Apodora''
*
Papuan Python, ''
Apodora papuana'' (
Wilhem Carl Hartwig Peters Peters &
G. Doria Doria,
1878)
'''Genus''' ''
Bothrochilus''
*
Bismark Archipelago Bismark Ringed Python, ''
Bothrochilus boa'' (
Hermann Schlegel Schlegel,
1837)
'''Genus''' ''
Leiopython''
*D'Albert's Python or White-lipped Python, ''
Leiopython albertisii'' (
Wilhem Carl Hartwig Peters Peters &
G. Doria Doria,
1878)
'''Genus''' ''
Liasis''
*Brown Water Python, ''
Liasis fuscus''
**''
Liasis fuscus fuscus'' (
Wilhem Carl Hartwig Peters Peters,
1873)
**''
Liasis fuscus jackyae'' (
R. Hoser Hoser,
2003)
*''
Liasis mackloti''
**Macklot's Python, ''
Liasis mackloti mackloti'' (
André Marie Constant Duméril Duméril &
Gabriel Bibron Bibron,
1844)
**Savu Python, ''
Liasis mackloti savuensis'' (
L.D. Brongersma Brongersma,
1956)
*Olive Python, ''
Liasis olivaceus''
**''
Liasis olivaceus olivaceus'' (
John Edward Gray Gray,
1842)
**''
Liasis olivaceus barroni'' (
L.A. Smith Smith,
1981)
Image:Morelia_spilota.jpg 250px|thumb|Carpet Python, ''Morelia spilota''
'''Genus''' ''
Morelia (snake) Morelia''
*Amethistine Python, ''
Morelia amethistina'' (
Johann Gottlob Schneider Schneider,
1801)
*
Boelen python Boelen's Python, ''
Morelia boeleni'' (
L.D. Brongersma Brongersma,
1953)
*Centralian Carpet Python or Bredl's Python, ''
Morelia bredli'' (
G.F. Gow Gow,
1981)
*Rough-scaled Python, ''
Morelia carinata'' (
L.A. Smith Smith,
1981)
*Mollucan Python, ''
Morelia clastolepis'' (
Michael B. Harvey Harvey,
David B. Barker Barker,
Loren K. Ammerman Ammerman &
Paul T. Chippindale Chippindale)
*
Australian Scrub Python, ''
Morelia kinghorni'' (
O.G. Stull Stull,
1933)
*''
Morelia macburniei'' (
R. Hoser Hoser,
2003)
*''
Morelia mippughae'' (
R. Hoser Hoser,
2003)
*
Tanimbar Python, ''
Morelia nauta'' (
Michael B. Harvey Harvey,
David B. Barker Barker,
Loren K. Ammerman Ammerman &
Paul T. Chippindale Chippindale)
*Oenpelli Python, ''
Morelia oenpelliensis'' (
G.F. Gow,
1977)
*
Carpet Python, ''
Morelia spilota''
**Southwestern Carpet Python, ''
Morelia spilota imbricata'' (
L.A. Smith Smith,
1981)
**Jungle Carpet Python, ''
Morelia spilota cheynei'' (
Wells &
Wellington,
1985)
**''
Morelia spilota macrospila'' (
F. Werner Werner,
1910)
**Coastal Carpet Python, ''
Morelia spilota mcdowelli'' (
Wells &
Wellington,
1985)
**Diamond Python, ''
Morelia spilota spilota'' (
Bernard Germain Étienne comte de La Ville-sur-Illon La Cépède La Cépède,
1804)
**Northwestern Carpet Python, ''
Morelia spilota variegata'' (
John Edward Gray Gray,
1842)
**Inland Carpet Python, ''
Morelia spilotes metcalfei'' (
Wells &
Wellington,
1985)
Image:Morelia_viridis.jpg 250px|thumb|Green Tree Python, ''Morelia viridis''
*Halmahera Python, ''
Morelia tracyae'' (
Michael B. Harvey Harvey,
David B. Barker Barker,
Loren K. Ammerman Ammerman &
Paul T. Chippindale Chippindale)
*
Green Tree Python, ''
Morelia viridis''
**''
Morelia viridis viridis''(
Hermann Schlegel Schlegel,
1872)
**''
Morelia viridis shireenae'' (
R. Hoser Hoser,
2003)
'''Genus''' ''Python''
Image:Python_breitensteini_.jpg 250px|thumb|Borneo Short-tailed Python, ''Python breitensteini''
*
Angolan Python, ''
Python anchietae'' (
José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage Bocage,
1887)
*Borneo Short-tailed Python, ''
Python breitensteini'' (
F. Steindachner Steindachner,
1881)
*Red Blood Python, ''
Python brongersmai'' (
O.G. Stull Stull,
1938)
*
Sumatran Short-tailed Python, ''
Python curtus'' (
Hermann Schlegel Schlegel,
1872)
*
Indian Python, ''
Python molurus''
**''
Python molurus molurus'' (
Carolus Linnaeus Linnaeus,
1758)
**
Burmese Python, ''
Python molurus bivittatus'' (
H. Kuhl Kuhl,
1820)
*
South African Python, ''
Python natalensis'' (
A. Smith Smith,
1833)
*
Ball Python or Royal Python, ''
Python regius'' (
G. Shaw Shaw,
1802)
*
Reticulated Python, ''
Python reticulatus''
**''
Python reticulatus reticulatus'' (
Johann Gottlob Schneider Schneider,
1801)
**Selayer Reticulated Python, ''
Python reticulatus saputrai'' (
M. Auliya Auliya,
2002)
**Kayaudi Dwarf Reticulated Python, ''
Python reticulatus jampeanus'' (
M. Auliya Auliya,
2002)
*
African Rock Python, ''
Python sebae'' (
S.G. Gmelin Gmelin,
1789)
*
Timor Python, ''
Python timoriensis'' (
Wilhelm Carl Hartwig Peters Peters,
1876)
Geographic Range and Habitat
Pythons are found in
Australia,
Southeast Asia,
India, and
Africa.
Most pythons live in the dense underbrush of rugged tropical
rainforest regions. They are excellent climbers; some
species, like the
Green Tree Python, are
wiktionary:arboreal arboreal. Like all snakes, they are also capable swimmers.
Description
Generally pythons range in size from 4.5 to 6
metres (15 to 20
foot (unit of length) feet) in length. They are among the longest species of snake in the world; according to the [http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/ Guinness Book of World Records] the
Reticulated Python holds the record for longest snake, at 10m (32ft 9.5in).
Some species exhibit vestigial bones of the pelvis and rear legs, which are externally apparent in the form of a pair of
anal spurs on each side of the
cloaca. These spurs are larger in males than females, and are used by the male to stimulate the female during copulation. Pythons are distinguishable from
Boa boas in that they have
teeth on the
premaxilla, a small
bone at the very front and center of the upper
jaw.
Some pythons display vivid patterns on their scales while others are a nondescript brown. They usually reflect appropriate
camouflage for their native habitat.
Behavior
Pythons are constrictors, and feed on
birds and
mammals, killing them by literally squeezing them to death. They coil themselves up around their prey, tighten, but merely squeeze hard enough to stop the prey's breathing and/or blood circulation. Large pythons usually would eat something about the size of a house cat, but larger food items are not unknown. They swallow their prey whole, and take several days or even weeks to fully digest it. Despite their intimidating size and muscular power, they are generally not dangerous to humans. While a large adult python could kill a human being (most likely by
asphyxia strangling rather than actual crushing), humans are outside the normal size range for prey. Reports of python attacks on humans are extremely rare. Despite this, pythons have been aggressively hunted, driving some species (like the
Indian Python) to the brink of
extinction.
Most pythons have heat-sensing organs in their lips. These enable them to detect objects that are hotter than the surrounding environment. Pythons that do not have heat-sensing organs identify their prey by smell. Pythons are ambush predators: they typically stay in a camouflaged position and then suddenly strike at passing prey. They then grasp the prey in their teeth, and kill by
constriction. Death is usually a result of suffocation or heart failure rather than crushing. Females protecting their eggs can be aggressive.
Reproduction
Pythons lay eggs which they arrange in a pile. They coil around the pile until all eggs have hatched. Since pythons cannot regulate their internal body temperature, they cannot incubate their eggs per se; instead, they raise the temperature of their eggs by small movements of their body—essentially, they "shiver". This is one of only a few documented cases of parental behaviour in snakes.
In Captivity
Most species of python are readily available in the exotic pet trade, many of which are frequently bred in captivity. The Difficulty of care and concerns for care, like adult size, vary greatly between species.
The larger species such as the
Burmese python and reticulated python should only be obtained and owned by those with extensive experience with and knowledge of snakes. Many cases of large pet pythons killing their owners have been documented [http://www.anapsid.org/handling.html], and many were due to poor husbandry on the part of the owner, rather than the snake just attacking at random.
References
-
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory Reptile Database
Category:Pythons
cy:Peithon
de:Python
fr:Python
ja:ニシã‚ヘビ
nl:Python (slang)
no:Pyton (slange)
ru:Питон (змеÑ?)
zh:Python
*** Shopping-Tip: Python
