D'Albertis python: Difference between revisions

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The '''D'Albertis python''' (''Bothrochilus albertisii'' ), also known [[Common name|commonly]] as the '''D'Albert's water python''', or the '''northern white-lipped python''' (''Bothrochilus albertisii''), is a [[species]] of [[Python (genus)|python]], a non[[venomous snake]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Pythonidae]]. NoThe species is [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[New Guinea]]. There are no [[subspecies]] that are currently recognized as being valid.<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=634409 |taxon=''Leiopython'' |accessdate=9 September 2007}}</ref>

==Geographic range and habitat==

It''B. albertisii'' is found in most of [[New Guinea]] below {{convert|1200|m|ft|abbr=on}}, including the islands of [[Salawati]] and [[Biak]], [[Normanby Island, Papua New Guinea|Normanby]], [[Mussau Island|Mussau]] and [[Emirau Island|Emirau]],<ref name="Schleip2008">{{cite journal|last1=Schleip|first1=Wulf D.|title=Revision of the genus ''Leiopython'' Hubrecht 1879 (Serpentes: Pythonidae) with the redescription of taxa recently described by Hoser (2000) and the description of new species |journal=Journal of Herpetology |date=2008 |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=645–667 |doi=10.1670/06-182R5.1}}</ref> as well as a few islands in the [[Torres Strait]].

The [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] given is "''Kapaor in Nova Guinea boreali occidentali ... et prope Andai'' ". The authors also stated localities for two additional specimens: "''...&nbsp;un esemplare a Kapaor fra i Papua Onin...''" and "''...&nbsp;un secondo esemplare ad Andai presso Dorei...''" (= Kapoar, Onin Peninsula and Andai, near Dorei, Irian Jaya, Indonesia).<ref name="McD99">[[:fr:Roy Wallace McDiarmid|McDiarmid RW]], [[Jonathan A. Campbell|Campbell JA]], Touré T (1999). ''Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1''. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).</ref>

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==Etymology==

The [[specific name (zoology)|specific name]], ''albertisii'', is in honor of Italian explorer [[Luigi D'Albertis]].<ref name="PetDor1878">[[Wilhelm Peters|Peters W]], [[Giacomo Doria|Doria G]] (1878). "''Catalogo dei rettili e dei batraci raccolti da [[Odoardo Beccari|O. Beccari]], L. M. D'Albertis e A. A. Bruijn nella sotto-regione austro-malese'' ". ''Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova'', Series 1, '''13''': 323-450. ("''Liasis Albertisii'' ", new species, pp. 401-403 + Plate III, Figure 2). (in Italian and Latin).</ref><ref name="Blns2011">Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (''Leiopython albertisii'', p. 64; ''L. bennettorum'', p. 22).</ref>

==Description==

Female adults of ''B. albertisii'' grow to an average of about 213&nbsp;cm (6–7&nbsp;ft) in total length (including tail). TheyBoth sexes are patternless, except for some light markings on the [[postoculars]]. The [[Dorsum (anatomy)|dorsum]] of the head is shiny black, and the upper and lower [[labial scales]] are white with black markings on the anterior edge of the scales. Body color is either brownish-violet fading to yellowish ventrally or blackish-blue fading to gray.

==Behavior==

Although mostly terrestrial, it''B. albertisii'' can and is known to occasionally climb.<ref name="Leiopython Albertisii">{{cite web|title=''Bothrochilus albertisii ''|url=http://www.coldbloodcreations.com/collection_pages/wlp.html|accessdate=14 December 2016}} Cold Blood Creations.</ref> White-lipped pythons are reportedly aggressive, though this is reduced in those born and raised in captivity.<ref>{{cite web|title=White Lipped Python|url=http://www.snakeestate.com/pythons/white-lipped-python.html|website=Python Snake Database|publisher=Snake Estate|accessdate=14 December 2016}}</ref> ''L. albertisii'' also has been observed to regularly regurgitate fur balls from its prey.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Schleip|first1=Wulf|title=''Leiopython albertisii'' (Northern White-Lipped Python). Behavior |journal=Herpetological Review |date=June 2009 |volume=40 |issue=2 |page=231 |accessdate=14 December 2016 |url=http://www.leiopython.de/publications/2009,%20Schleip,%20Leiopython_Behavior.pdf}}</ref>

==Feeding==

The diet of ''B. albertisii'' includes a range of small-sized to medium-sized birds and mammals.<ref name="Meh87">Mehrtens JM (1987). ''Living Snakes of the World in Color''. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. {{ISBN|0-8069-6460-X}}.</ref> Neonates and juveniles often feed on lizards. Heat sensitive pits in the upper and lower jaws are used to help locate prey during nocturnal hunting.<ref name="Leiopython Albertisii"/>

==Reproduction==

It''B. albertisii'' is [[Oviparity|oviparous]]. A sexually mature female may lay a [[Clutch (eggs)|clutch]] of about a dozen eggs. The eggs stick together in a compact pile, and the female coils around them. The hatchlings emerge after about two months of incubation and are about {{convert|38|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name="Meh87"/>

==References==