Central African rock python: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:58, 18 November 2023

Revision as of 11:34, 22 November 2023

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==Description==

[[File:Albertus Seba Python sebae.jpg|thumb|left|An 18th-century illustration]]

Africa's largest snake species<ref name=Holland>{{cite book|title=Boas and Pythons of the World|year=2007|publisher=New Holland Publishers|___location=London|author=[[Mark O'Shea (herpetologist)|O’Shea M]]|isbn=978-1-84537-544-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VDIbbpl_ktgC}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=Collins>{{cite book|title=Collins Guide to African Wildlife|isbn=000220066X|year=1996|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|___location=London|vauthors=Alden PC, Estes RD, Schlitter D, McBridge B }}</ref> and one of the world's largest,<ref name="Meh87"/> the Central African rock python adult measures {{cvt|3|to|3.53|m|ftin}} in total length (including tail), with only unusually large specimens likely to exceed {{cvt|4.8|m|ftin}}. Reports of specimens over {{cvt|6|m|ftin}} are considered reliable, although larger specimens have never been confirmed.<ref name="Mur97">Murphy JC, Henderson RW (1997). ''Tales of Giant Snakes: A Historical Natural History of Anacondas and Pythons''. Krieger Pub. Co. {{ISBN|0-89464-995-7}}.</ref><ref name="Starin" /><ref name=ark11/> Weights are reportedly in the range of {{cvt|55|to|65|kg|lb}} or more.<ref>{{cite book |title=Giant Snakes |date=March 2019 |publisher=Murphy, John C., and Tom Crutchfield |pages=7 |url=https://www.academia.edu/download/59221813/Giant_SnakesSamplePages20190512-111758-7gzr3m.pdf }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Exceptionally large specimens may weigh {{cvt|91|kg|lb}} or more.<ref>Spawls S, Howell K, Drewes R, Ashe J (2002). ''A Field Guide to Reptiles of East Africa''. San Diego, California: Academic Press.</ref><ref>Spawls S, [[:fr:William Rpy Branch|Branch B]] (1995). ''The Dangerous Snakes of Africa''. South Africa: Southern Book Publishers, Ltd.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Ott | first1 = BD | last2 = Secor | first2 = SM | s2cid = 6757894 | year = 2007 | title = Adaptive regulation of digestive performance in the genus ''Python'' | journal = Journal of Experimental Biology | volume = 210 | issue = 2| pages = 340–356 | doi = 10.1242/jeb.02626 | pmid = 17210969 | doi-access = free }}</ref> On average, large adults of Central African rock pythons are quite heavily built, perhaps more so than most specimens of the somewhat longer [[Reticulated python|reticulated]] as well as [[Indian python|Indian]] and [[Burmese python]]s and far more so than the [[amethystine python]], although the species is on average less heavily built than the [[green anaconda]]. The species may be the second heaviest living snake with some authors agreeing that it can exceptionally exceed {{cvt|90|kg|lb}}.<ref>Murphy, J. C., & Henderson, R. W. (1997). ''Tales of giant snakes: a historical natural history of anacondas and pythons''. Florida: Krieger Publishing Company.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Vincent | first1 = S. E. | last2 = Dang | first2 = P. D. | last3 = Herrel | first3 = A. | last4 = Kley | first4 = N. J. | year = 2006 | title = Morphological integration and adaptation in the snake feeding system: a comparative phylogenetic study | journal = Journal of Evolutionary Biology | volume = 19 | issue = 5| pages = 1545–1554 | doi = 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01126.x | pmid = 16910984 | s2cid = 4662004 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>Bodson, L. (2003). ''A Python (" Python sebae" Gmelin) for the King: The Third Century BC Herpetological Expedition to Aithiopia (Diodorus of Sicily 3.36–37)''. Museum Helveticum, 60(1), 22-38.</ref> One specimen, reportedly {{cvt|7|m|ftin}} in length, was killed by K. H. Kroft in 1958 and was claimed to have had a {{cvt|1.5|m}} juvenile [[Nile crocodile]] in its stomach.<ref name = "Wood">{{cite book | author = Wood, Gerald | url = https://archive.org/details/guinnessbookofan00wood | title = The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats | year = 1983 | isbn = 978-0-85112-235-9 }}</ref> An even larger specimen considered authentic was shot in [[the Gambia]] and measured {{cvt|7.5|m|ftin}}.<ref name="Starin" /><ref name=ark11/>

[[File:Brehm VII 331 - Python sebae.png|thumb|right|Illustration by Brehms Thierleben]]

The snake varies considerably in body size between different areas. In general, it is smaller in highly populated regions, such as in southern [[Nigeria]], only reaching its maximum length in areas such as [[Sierra Leone]], where the human population density is lower. [[Sexual dimorphism|Males are typically smaller than females]].<ref name="Starin">{{cite journal |vauthors=Starin ED, Burghardt GM | title = African rock pythons (Python sebae) in the Gambia: observations on natural history and interactions with humans | journal = The Snake | pages = 50–62 | volume = 24 | year = 1992}}</ref>

The Central African rock python's body is thick and covered with colored blotches, often joining up in a broad, irregular stripe. Body markings vary between brown, olive, chestnut, and yellow, but fade to white on the underside.<ref name=Barron>{{cite book|title=Pythons|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7641-4244-4|url=https://archive.org/details/pythonseverythin0000bart|url-access=registration|publisher=Barron’s Educational Series|___location=New York|vauthors=Bartlett PP, Wagner E }}</ref><ref name=Collins /> The head is triangular and is marked on top with a dark brown “spear-head” outlined in buffy yellow. Teeth are many, sharp, and backwardly curved.<ref name=Schmidt>{{cite book|title=Reptiles and Amphibians of Southern Africa|isbn=1-77007-342-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D-T7qkR5K7QC|year=2006|publisher=Struik|___location=Cape Town, South Africa|author=Schmidt W}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=Collins /> Under the eye, there is a distinctive triangular marking, the [[Ocular scales|subocular mark]].<ref name=Barron /> Like all pythons, the [[Scale (anatomy)|scales]] of the African rock python are small and smooth.<ref name=Collins /><ref name=Branch>{{cite book|title=Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hs9EzcxkCE4C|isbn=1868720403|year=1998|publisher=Struik|___location=Cape Town, South Africa|author=[[:fr:William Roy Branch|Branch, Bill]]}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Those around the lips possess [[Infrared sensing in snakes|heat-sensitive pits]], which are used to detect warm-blooded prey, even in the dark.<ref name=Schmidt /><ref name=Branch /><ref name=Oxford>{{cite book|title=The New Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians|isbn=0-19-852507-9|year=2002|publisher=Oxford University Press|___location=Oxford|vauthors=Halliday T, Adler K }}</ref> Pythons also possess two functioning lungs, unlike more advanced snakes, which have only one, and also have small, visible [[pelvic spur]]s, believed to be the vestiges of hind limbs.<ref name=Branch /><ref name=Oxford />

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The Central African rock python is found throughout almost the whole of sub-Saharan Africa,<ref name=ark9>{{cite journal|author1=[[:fr:William Roy Branch|Branch WR]], Hacke WD |year=1980|jstor=1563557|title= A fatal attack on a young boy by an African rock python Python sebae|journal= Journal of Herpetology|volume= 14|issue=3|pages=305–307|doi=10.2307/1563557}}</ref> from [[Senegal]] east to [[Ethiopia]] and [[Somalia]] and south to [[Namibia]] and South Africa.<ref name=CITES>{{cite web|title=CITES|url=http://www.cites.org/|publisher=CITES}}</ref><ref name=Collins /> ''P. sebae'' ranges across central and western Africa, while ''P. natalensis'' has a more eastern and southerly range, from southern [[Kenya]] to South Africa.<ref name=Holland />

In 2009, a Central African rock python was found in the [[Everglades|Florida Everglades]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=12226516 |access-date=5 April 2012|publisher=WBBH (NBC-2 News)|title=Largest African Rock Python caught in Everglades|archive-date=21 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721140750/http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=12226516|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is feared to be establishing itself as an [[invasive species]] alongside the already-established [[Burmese python]]. Feral rock pythons were also noted in the 1990s in the Everglades.<ref name="Mur97"/>

The Central African rock python inhabits a wide range of habitats, including forest, savanna, grassland, semidesert, and rocky areas. It is particularly associated with areas of permanent water,<ref name=Barron /><ref>Luiselli L, Akani GC, Eniang EA, Politano E (2007). "Comparative ecology and ecological modeling of sympatric pythons, ''Python regius'' and ''Python sebae''. '''In:''' Henderson RW, Powell R (Editors) (2007). ''Biology of the Boas and Pythons''. Eagle Mountain, Utah: EMP Press. {{ISBN|0972015434}}.</ref> and is found on the edges of swamps, lakes, and rivers.<ref name=Holland /><ref name=Collins /> The snake also readily adapts to disturbed habitats, so is often found around human habitation,<ref name=ark9/> especially cane fields.<ref name="Meh87"/>

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==Ecology and biology==

===Feeding===

Like all pythons, the Central African rock python is non-venomous and kills by constriction.<ref name=Schmidt /><ref name=Oxford /> After gripping the prey, the snake coils around it, tightening its coils every time the victim breathes out. Death is thought to be caused by cardiac arrest rather than by asphyxiation or crushing.<ref name=Schmidt /> The African rock python feeds on a variety of large rodents, monkeys, warthogs, antelopes, vultures, fruit bats, monitor lizards, crocodiles, and more in forest areas,<ref name=Collins /> and on rats, poultry, dogs, and goats in suburban areas. It will sometimes take fish as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Python_sebae/|title = Python sebae (African Rock Python)| website=[[Animal Diversity Web]] }}</ref> Occasionally, it may eat the cubs of big cats such as leopards, lions, and cheetahs, cubs of hyenas, and puppies of wild dogs such as jackals and Cape hunting dogs.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}. However, these encounters are very rare, as the adult cats can easily kill pythons or fend them off.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sandeep|first=Sharma|year=2004|title=An observation on suspected death of Indian Rock Python (Python molurus molurus) because of Jungle Cat (Felis chaus)|url=http://www.zoosprint.org/ZoosPrintNewsLetter/RepRap6%20Sep04.pdf|journal=South Asian Reptile Network Newsletter|volume=6|pages=1|access-date=2017-01-12|archive-date=2016-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401231545/http://zoosprint.org/ZoosPrintNewsLetter/RepRap6%20Sep04.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=ark11>{{cite journal|vauthors=Luiselli L, Angelici FM, Akani GC |year=2001|title=Food habits of ''Python sebae'' in suburban and natural habitats|journal=African Journal of Ecology|volume=39|pages=116–118|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2028.2001.00269.x}}</ref> On March 1, 2017, a 3.9-m (12-ft 10-in) African rock python was filmed eating a large adult male spotted hyena weighing {{cvt|150|lb|kg|-1|order=flip}}. This encounter suggests that the snake might very well be capable of hunting and killing larger and more dangerous animals than previously thought.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/snakes-pythons-africa-hyena-kill |title = Watch First-Ever Video of Python Swallowing Hyena| website=[[National Geographic Society]] }}</ref> The largest ever recorded meal of any snake was when a 4.9m African Rock Python consumed a 59-kg impala.<ref>{{Cite book|title=encyclopedia of LIFE|publisher=Miles Kelly|year=2017|isbn=978-1-78617-327-0|pages=227}}</ref>

[[File:Python's picnic - Flickr - mango atchar.jpg|thumb|right|Constricting a pregnant goat]]