|
| authority = [[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1826
| synonyms = * Pythonoidia - Fitzinger, 1826
* Pythonoidei -– Eichwald, 1831
* Holodonta -– Müller, 1832
* Pythonina -– Bonaparte, 1840
* Pythophes -– Fitzinger, 1843
* Pythoniens -– A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
* Holodontes -– A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
* Pythonides -– A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
* Pythones -– Cope, 1861
* Pythonidae -– Cope, 1864
* Peropodes -– Meyer, 1874
* Chondropythonina -– Boulenger, 1879
* Pythoninae -– Boulenger, 1890
* Pythonini -– Underwood & Stimson, 1990
* Moreliini -– Underwood & Stimson, 1990<ref name="McD99">{{cite book|last1=McDiarmid|first1=Roy W. |last2=Campbell|first2=Jonathan A. |last3=Touré|first3=T'Shaka A. |title=Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GQOuswEACAAJ|volume=1|year=1999|publisher=Herpetologists' League|isbn=978-1-893777-01-9}}</ref>
}}{{More citations needed|date=November 2022}}
[[File:LRMEXPORT 187433861073166 20200523 062423632a.jpg|alt=pythons|thumb|Indian python (''[[Python molurus]]'')]]
Pythons are indigenous to the Old World Tropics, including sub-Saharan Africa, tropical to subtropical Asia, and Australia, Pythons are ambush predators that primarily kill prey by constriction, causing cardiac arrest. Pythons are oviparous, laying eggs that females incubate until they hatch. They possess premaxillary teeth, with the exception of adults in the Australian genus ''Aspidites''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/191269/1/03_vertebrate_zoology_70_3_2020_Georgalis_et_Smith.pdf |title=Constrictores Oppel, 1811 – the available name for the taxonomic group uniting boas and pythons |access-date=2020-12-12 |archivedate=2020-12-12 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212102353/https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/191269/1/03_vertebrate_zoology_70_3_2020_Georgalis_et_Smith.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | pmc=5108151 | date=2016 | last1=Palci | first1=A. | last2=Lee | first2=M. S. | last3=Hutchinson | first3=M. N. | title=Patterns of postnatal ontogeny of the skull and lower jaw of snakes as revealed by micro-CT scan data and three-dimensional geometric morphometrics | journal=Journal of Anatomy | volume=229 | issue=6 | pages=723–754 | doi=10.1111/joa.12509 | pmid=27329823 }}</ref> While many species are available in the exotic pet trade, caution is needed with larger species due to potential danger. The taxonomy of pythons has evolved, and they are now known to be more closely related to sunbeam snakes and the Mexican burrowing python. {{cn|date=January 2025}}
Pythons are frequently poached for their skins, with the globalexport market for skins from [[Southeast Asia]] estimated at a billion dollars in 2012. They are also sold and consumed as meat. They can carry diseases, such as salmonella and leptospirosis, which can be transmitted to humans. Pythons are also used in African traditional medicine to treat ailments like rheumatism and mental illnesses. Their body parts, including blood and organs, are believed to have various healing properties. In some African cultures, pythons have significant roles in folklore and mythology, often symbolizing strength or having sacred status.
==Distribution and habitat==
==Relationship with humans==
=== Skin and meat trade ===
Trade in python skins is a lucrative business with the globalexport market from Southeast Asia estimated at US$1 billion as of 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20509720|title=Python skin trade worth a billion – and often illegal |last=McGrath|first=Matt |website=[[BBC News]] | name-list-style = vanc |date=2012-11-28|access-date=2019-03-14|language=en-GB}}</ref> Much of the trade is illegal, and python farming is very expensive.<ref>{{cite news | first = Victoria | last = Turk | name-list-style = vanc |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/snake-farms-could-tackle-the-billion-dollar-black-market-for-python-skin/|title=Snake Farms Could Tackle the Billion Dollar Black Market for Python Skin|date=2014-04-02|work=Motherboard|access-date=2019-03-14|language=en-us}}</ref> Pythons are poached for their meat, mostly consumed locally as [[bushmeat]] and their skin, which is sent to Europe and North America for manufacture of accessories like bags, belts and shoes.<ref name = "Jensen_2017">{{cite web|first=Timm Juul|last=Jensen|name-list-style=vanc|url=https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2017/09/05/large-snakes-are-on-the-menu-at-cameroons-nkoldongo-bushmeat-market/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108033842/https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2017/09/05/large-snakes-are-on-the-menu-at-cameroons-nkoldongo-bushmeat-market/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2018|title=Large snakes are on the menu at Cameroon's Nkoldongo bushmeat market|work=National Geographic Society Newsroom|date=5 September 2017|access-date=2019-03-14}}</ref>
In [[Cameroon]] bushmeat markets, the [[Central African rock python]] (''Python sebae'') is sold for meat.<ref name = "Jensen_2017" /> Hunting, killing and selling pythons is illegal in [[Cameroon]] under national wildlife law, but there is little to no enforcement.<ref name = "Jensen_2017" />
=== Pythons and human health ===
While pythonsPythons are not venomous, theybut dolike carryother areptiles, hostthey ofcan potential health issues for humans. Pythons are diseasebe vectors for multipleinfections illnesses,that includingaffect [[Salmonellosis|Salmonella]]humans, [[Chlamydiasuch infection|Chlamydia]],as [[Leptospirosis]], [[Aeromoniasis]], [[Campylobacteriosis]], and [[Zygomycosissalmonella]]. TheseSuch diseases may be transmitted to humans through excreted waste, open wounds, and contaminated water.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Potential Zoonoses/Hazards Associated with Reptiles|url=https://ras.research.cornell.edu/care/documents/OHS/zoonosis_information_sheet_reptiles.pdf|journal=Cornell Center for Animal Resources and Education}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ebani VV | title = Domestic reptiles as source of zoonotic bacteria: A mini review | journal = Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine | volume = 10 | issue = 8 | pages = 723–728 | date = August 2017 | pmid = 28942820 | doi = 10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.07.020 | doi-access = free | hdl = 11568/880208 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> A 2013 study found that Reptile-Associated Salmonella (RAS) is most common in young children who had been in contact with invasive pythons, with symptoms including "[[sepsis]], [[meningitis]], and bone and joint infection".<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Meyer Sauteur PM, Relly C, Hug M, Wittenbrink MM, Berger C | title = Risk factors for invasive reptile-associated salmonellosis in children | journal = Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases | volume = 13 | issue = 6 | pages = 419–21 | date = June 2013 | pmid = 23473215 | doi = 10.1089/vbz.2012.1133 | s2cid = 1311418 | url = https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/79426/1/Meyer_Vector-Borne_2013.pdf }}</ref>
Pythons are also integrated into some aspects of African health and belief use, often with the added risk of contacting zoonotic diseases. Python bodies and blood are used for African traditional medicines and other belief uses as well, one in-depth study of all animals used by the Yorubas of Nigeria for traditional medicine found that the African Python is used to cure rheumatism, snake poison, appeasing witches, and accident prevention.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
=== Traditional use ===
==== Skin ====
Python skin has traditionally been used as the attire of choice for medicine men and healers.<ref name="AlexanderMoshoeu2016">{{cite journal|last1=Alexander|first1=Graham J.|last2=Moshoeu|first2=Thibedi J.|last3=Williams|first3=Vivienne L.|title=Reptiles sold as traditional medicine in Xipamanine and Xiquelene Markets (Maputo, Mozambique)|journal=South African Journal of Science|volume=112|issue= 7/8|year=2016|page=9 |issn=0038-2353|doi=10.17159/sajs.2016/20150416|doi-access=free}}</ref> Typically, [[South Africa]]n [[Zulu people|Zulu]] traditional healers will use python skin in ceremonial regalia.<ref name="AlexanderMoshoeu2016" /> Pythons are viewed by the Zulu tradition to be a sign of power. This is likely why the skin is worn by traditional healers. Healers are seen as all-powerful since they have a wealth of knowledge, as well as accessibility to the ancestors.<ref name="AlexanderMoshoeu2016" />
==== Fat ====
| 