Burmese python: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:14, 15 July 2023

Revision as of 08:29, 15 July 2023

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==Description==

The Burmese python is a dark-colored non-venomous snake with many brown blotches bordered by black down the back.

In the wild, Burmese pythons typically grow to {{cvt|5|m}},<ref name="Smith" /><ref name="Campden"/> while specimens of more than {{cvt|7|m}} are unconfirmed.<ref name="Barker2012"/> This species is [[sexually dimorphic]] in size; females average only slightly longer, but are considerably heavier and bulkier than the males. For example, length-weight comparisons in captive Burmese pythons for individual females have shown: at {{cvt|3.47|m|ftin}} length, a specimen weighed {{cvt|29|kg|lb}}, a specimen of just over {{cvt|4|m}} weighed {{cvt|36|kg|lb}}, a specimen of {{cvt|4.5|m}} weighed {{cvt|40|kg|lb}}, and a specimen of {{cvt|5|m}} weighed {{cvt|75|kg|lb}}. In comparison, length-weight comparisons for males found: a specimen of {{cvt|2.8|m}} weighed {{cvt|12|kg|lb}}, {{cvt|2.97|m}} weighed {{cvt|14.5|kg|lb}}, a specimen of {{cvt|3|m}} weighed {{cvt|7|kg|lb}}, and a specimen of {{cvt|3.05|m}} weighed {{cvt|18.5|kg|lb}}.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Van Mierop, L.H. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Barnard, S.M. |year=1976 |title=Observations on the reproduction of ''Python molurus bivittatus'' (Reptilia, Serpentes, Boidae) |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=333–340 |doi=10.2307/1563071 |jstor=1563071}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Barker, D.G. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Murphy J.B. |author3=Smith, K.W. |year=1979 |title=Social behavior in a captive group of Indian pythons, ''Python molurus'' (Serpentes, Boidae) with formation of a linear social hierarchy |journal=Copeia |volume=1979 |issue=3 |pages=466–471 |doi=10.2307/1443224 |jstor=1443224}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Marcellini, D.L. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Peters, A. |year=1982 |title=Preliminary observations on endogeneous heat production after feeding in ''Python molurus'' |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=16 |issue=1|pages=92–95 |doi=10.2307/1563914|jstor=1563914}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Jacobson, E.R. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Homer, B. |author3=Adams, W. |year=1991 |title=Endocarditis and congestive heart failure in a Burmese python (''Python molurus bivittatus'') |journal=Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |volume=22 |pages=245–248}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Groot, T.V. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Bruins, E. |author3=Breeuwer, J.A. |title=Molecular genetic evidence for parthenogenesis in the Burmese python, ''Python molurus bivittatus'' | journal = Heredity |volume=90 |issue=2 |pages=130–135 |date=2003 |pmid=12634818 |doi=10.1038/sj.hdy.6800210 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In general, individuals over {{cvt|5|m}} are rare.<ref name="SaintGirons">{{Cite journal |author=Saint Girons, H. |year=1972 |title=Les serpents du Cambodge |journal=Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle |series=Série A |pages=40–41}}</ref> The record for maximum length of Burmese pythons is held{{cvt|5.79|m|ftin}} byand awas femalecaught that10 livedJuly at2023 [[Serpentin Safari]]South forFlorida's 27Big yearsCypress National Preserve.<ref>{{Cite Shortlyweb|title=A afterrecord-breaking death,Burmese herpython actual— lengthas waslong determinedas toa begiraffe {{cvtis tall — caught in Florida|5url=https://www.74npr.org/2023/07/13/1187497592/record-breaking-burmese-python-longest-florida|mwebsite=NPR|ftinlast=Jones|first=Dustin|date=13 July 2023|access-date=14 July 2023}}.</ref> Widely published data of specimens reported to have been several feet longer are not verified.<ref name="Barker2012"/> At her death, a Burmese named "Baby" was the heaviest snake recorded in the world at the time at {{cvt|182.8|kg|lb}},<ref name=Barker2012/> much heavier than any wild snake ever measured.<ref name="Riv00">{{cite thesis |author=Rivas, J.A. |year=2000 |title=The life history of the green anaconda (''Eunectes murinus''), with emphasis on its reproductive Biology |degree=[[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] |publisher=[[University of Tennessee]] |url=http://www.anacondas.org/diss/disser.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202240/http://www.anacondas.org/diss/disser.pdf# | archive-date=2016-03-03 }}</ref> Her length was measured at {{cvt|5.74|m|ftin}} circa 1999.<ref name=Barker2012/> The minimum size for adults is {{cvt|2.35|m|ftin}}.<ref name="Mur97">{{cite book |author1=Murphy, J.C. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Henderson, R.W. |year=1997 |title=Tales of Giant Snakes: A Historical Natural History of Anacondas and Pythons |publisher=Krieger Pub. Co. |isbn=0-89464-995-7 |pages= 2, 19, 37, 42, 55–56 |url=https://archive.org/details/talesofgiantsnak00murp/page/2}}</ref> Dwarf forms occur in [[Java]], [[Bali]], and [[Sulawesi]], with an average length of {{cvt|2|m|ftin}} in Bali,<ref name=McKay>{{cite book |author=McKay, J.L. |date=2006 |title=A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Bali |publisher=Krieger Publishing Company |isbn=1-57524-190-0 |pages=13, 14, 18, 86}}</ref> and a maximum of {{cvt|2.5|m|ftin}} on Sulawesi.<ref name="LangVogel">{{cite book |author1=De Lang, R. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Vogel, G. |date=2005 |title=The Snakes of Sulawesi: A Field Guide to the Land Snakes of Sulawesi with Identification Keys |series=Frankfurt Contributions to Natural History |edition=Band 25 |publisher=Chimaira |isbn=3-930612-85-2 |pages=23–27, 198–201}}</ref> Wild individuals average {{cvt|3.7|m|ft}} long,{{r|Smith|Campden}} but have been known to reach {{cvt|5.79|m|ftin}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A record-breaking Burmese python — as long as a giraffe is tall — caught in Florida|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/13/1187497592/record-breaking-burmese-python-longest-florida|website=NPR|last=Jones|first=Dustin|date=13 July 2023|access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref>

===Diseases===