Central African rock python: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:29, 3 June 2025

Revision as of 21:08, 3 June 2025

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{{Short description|Species of snake}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Central African rock python

| image = Adult Female Python sebae 1.33aspect.jpg

| image_caption = Adult female (note the thick body)

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}}

The '''Central African rock python''' ('''''Python sebae''''') is a [[species]] of large constrictor snake in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Pythonidae]]. The species is native to [[sub-Saharan Africa]]. It is one of 10 living [[species]] in the [[genus]] [[Python (genus)|''Python'']].

Africa's largest snake and one of the eight [[List of largest snakes|largest snake species]] in the world (along with the [[green anaconda]], [[reticulated python]], [[Burmese python]], [[Southern African rock python]], [[Indian python]], [[yellow anaconda]] and [[Australian scrub python]]), specimens may approach or exceed {{cvt|6|m}}. The southern species is generally smaller than its northern relative but in general, the Central African rock python is regarded as one of the longest species of snake in the world. The snake is found in a variety of habitats, from forests to near deserts, although usually near sources of water. The snake becomes dormant during the [[dry season]]. The Central African rock python kills its prey by constriction and often eats animals up to the size of antelope, occasionally even crocodiles. The snake reproduces by egg-laying. Unlike most snakes, the female protects her nest and sometimes even her hatchlings.

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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}}</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|issue=1 |pages=116–118|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2028.2001.00269.x|bibcode=2001AfJEc..39..116L }}</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]] | date=15 March 2017 }}</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]]