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▲{{short description|Species of large, nonvenomous snake}}
{{Speciesbox
|name=Burmese python
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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">{{cite journal |author1=Barker, D.G. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Barten, S.L. |author3=Ehrsam, J.P. |author4=Daddono, L. |title=The corrected lengths of two well-known giant pythons and the establishment of a new maximum length record for Burmese Pythons, ''Python bivittatus'' |journal=Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society|volume=47|issue=1|pages=1–6|date=2012|url=http://www.vpi.com/sites/default/files/Barker-et-al_CorrectPythonLengths_2.pdf|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> 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 {{cvt|5.79|m|ftin}} and was caught 10 July 2023 in South Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve.<ref name="Jones">{{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> 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
===Diseases===
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==Distribution and habitat==
The Burmese python occurs throughout Southern and Southeast Asia, including eastern [[India]], southeastern [[Nepal]], western [[Bhutan]], southeastern [[Bangladesh]], [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]], [[Laos]], [[Cambodia]], [[Vietnam]], northern continental [[Malaysia]], and southern China in [[Fujian]], [[Jiangxi]], [[Guangdong]], [[Hainan]], [[Guangxi]], and [[Yunnan]].<ref>{{Cite journal |author1=Barker, D.G. |author2=Barker, T.M. |year=2010 |title=The Distribution of the Burmese Python, ''Python bivittatus'', in China |url=http://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Burmese-China_BarkerBarker.pdf |journal=Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society |volume=45 |issue=5 |pages=86–88 |access-date=2012-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191735/http://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Burmese-China_BarkerBarker.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It also occurs in [[Hong Kong]], and in [[Indonesia]] on [[Java]], southern [[Sulawesi]], Bali, and [[Sumbawa]].<ref>{{Cite journal |author1=Barker, D.G. |author2=Barker, T.M. |year=2008 |title=The distribution of the Burmese Python, ''Python molurus bivittatus'' |journal=Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=33–38 |url=http://www.venomousreptiles.org/libraries/download/6157/distributionburmesepython.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220853/http://www.venomousreptiles.org/libraries/download/6157/DistributionBurmesePython.pdf |archive-date=2014-05-20 |access-date=2012-10-17}}</ref> It has also been reported in [[Kinmen]].<ref name=SoT>{{cite web |author1=Breuer, H. |author2=Murphy, W.C. |date=2009–2010 |url=http://www.snakesoftaiwan.com/Python%20molurus%20bivittatus/species_python_molurus.htm |title=''Python molurus bivittatus'' |work=Snakes of Taiwan |access-date=17 October 2012 |archive-date=26 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626211432/http://www.snakesoftaiwan.com/Python%20molurus%20bivittatus/species_python_molurus.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
It is an excellent swimmer and needs a permanent source of water. It lives in [[grassland]]s, marshes, swamps, rocky foothills, woodlands, river valleys, and jungles with open clearings. It is a good climber and has a [[prehensile]] tail. It can stay in water for 30 minutes but mostly stays on land.{{
==As an invasive species==
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In December 2021, a Burmese python was captured in Florida that weighed {{cvt|215|lbs|kg|order=flip}} and had a length of {{cvt|18|ft|m|order=flip}}; it contained a record 122 developing eggs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=A. B. |title=Caught! Record-breaking 18-foot Burmese python pulled from Collier County wilderness |url=https://www.news-press.com/story/tech/science/environment/2022/06/22/record-breaking-18-foot-burmese-python-caught-florida-everglades/7694354001/ |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=The News-Press}}</ref>
In July 2023, local hunters captured and killed a 19-foot long Burmese python in Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve.<ref
==Behavior==
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The Burmese python is listed on [[CITES Appendix II]].<ref name=IUCN/> It has been listed as [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]] on the [[IUCN Red List]] since 2012, as the wild population is estimated to have declined by at least 30% in the first decade of the 21st century due to [[habitat loss]] and over-harvesting.<ref name=IUCN/>
To maintain Burmese python populations, the IUCN recommends increased conservation legislation and enforcement at the national and international levels to reduce harvesting across the snake's native range. The IUCN also recommends increased research into its population ecology and threats. In Hong Kong, it is a [[List of protected species in Hong Kong|protected species]] under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170. It is also protected in Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. However, it is still common only in Hong Kong and Thailand, with rare to very rare statuses in the rest of its range.{{
==In captivity==
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