The python family brings together all the giant snakes other than boas. Some species are nonetheless of medium or small size, not exceeding 1 m in length. Pythons may have large or small scales on top of the head, and many species have heat-sensitive pits along the edges of their jaws.
Just like boas, pythons have taken advantage of a variety of habitats. All pythons lay eggs, which they protect, or incubate, within their coils during their development.
They are found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Timor, Africa and South and South-East Asia. There are 26 species spread across 8 genera.
The spotted python:
This small python is found in most types of habitat, and in particular on rocky hillsides and in crevices. It is nocturnal, and hunts small vertebrates. Its favourite prey are insectivorous bats, which it catches at the entrance to caves.
It has a slender, cylindrical body, covered with smooth, iridescent scales. It keeps its irregularly spotted markings throughout its life, but the size of the patterns and their contrast with the background colour can vary.
It is a powerful constrictor, and it wraps its prey in several coils of its body and squeezes until it suffocates. Once it is sure the prey is dead, it does not release it, but works its body along its coils as it swallows it.
The green python:
This splendid snake lives in the tropical forests of New Guinea and the far north of Queensland, in Australia. It spends its whole life in the canopy, and by day it stays coiled in spectacular fashion on branches, while at night it goes off to hunt arboreal mammals and birds perched in the trees.
The green python closely resembles the emerald tree boa, native to South America. It has small cephalic scales and heat-sensitive pits located in the scales bordering the mouth. The adult is bright green and usually shows a broken line of white spots down the middle of the back. The young are sulphur yellow, or more rarely red, and turn green at around one year of age. It is the only predominantly green python, and it is more slender than most other pythons. Both of these features are adaptations to arboreal life.
It has powerful musculature: most of its weight is supported by strong muscles. Its ability to stretch out into open space allows it to move easily from branch to branch. In addition, cephalic protuberances conceal the powerful jaw muscles: a good grip is important for an arboreal species, because prey that falls is lost.
The Burmese python:
It lives in South and South-East Asia. It is found near villages, and even towns, where it plays a useful role by getting rid of rats and other pests. But it also preys on poultry and other domestic animals, so it is not always welcome.
The Burmese python is able to raise its body temperature through a process that has not yet been fully explained.
It commonly reaches 3 metres, and sometimes more (the record being almost 7 m!). It is distinguished by its light brown and ochre markings, smooth scales, large scales on top of the head and heat-sensitive pits that allow it to locate its prey even in total darkness. Its rich markings and smooth scales have led to intensive hunting for the skin trade. Wiped out in several regions, it has now become rare in most places where it was once common.
Owing to a genetic anomaly, some Burmese pythons lack the dark pigments responsible for their rich colouring. These captive-bred albinos are selected to produce pure strains known as golden pythons.
The reticulated python:
It is the longest snake in the world: it measures on average 5 m, with the record length exceeding 8 m! It inhabits the humid tropical forests of South-East Asia. Hidden in the forest vegetation, it leads a discreet life. It occasionally strays into villages or the outskirts of large cities, probably drawn by rats and domestic animals. It is one of the 4 to 5 snakes known to have devoured humans.
Its size and its featureless head are usually enough to identify it, even if its markings vary somewhat. Despite its large size, it is difficult to spot, owing to excellent camouflage and to the fact that it is very inactive during the day. It is a nocturnal snake that relies mainly on ambush hunting. A broad head and an enormous mouth allow it to swallow large prey and make it a formidable predator. Long, recurved teeth ensure that it rarely lets the prey it has caught escape. Given its impressive size, this powerful constrictor is able to overpower and kill animals the size of a deer, a pig or a dog.
Common diseases
In pythons (constrictor snakes), most illnesses are linked to the terrarium conditions: heat, humidity and hygiene.
Bear in mind: a healthy snake depends on suitable heat, good humidity and a clean terrarium. Most problems come from one of these settings.
Small external parasites (mites) sometimes appear: they are tiny moving black dots on the skin. The snake then stays in its water bowl for long periods and rubs itself. These parasites spread easily.
A difficult shed leaves scraps of skin that will not come off, especially over the eyes. It is often due to a lack of humidity. You must never pull on the remaining skin.
Drooling, redness or a deposit in the mouth suggests a mouth infection ('mouth rot'). Bubbles, an open mouth, or wheezing when breathing signal a respiratory tract infection. Finally, regurgitation or a prolonged refusal to feed should always attract attention.
The veterinarian's advice Adequate humidity at the time of shedding and a clean terrarium prevent a large proportion of skin and mouth problems.
When to see a vet promptly moving black dots on the skin, incomplete shedding (especially over the eyes), drooling or redness in the mouth, a prolonged refusal to feed.
When to see a vet urgently open-mouthed breathing, bubbles or wheezing, repeated regurgitation, a very weak snake that no longer responds.
Key points heat, humidity and terrarium hygiene prevent most diseases. Never pull off a remaining piece of shed skin. This information does not replace a consultation.