Antaresia perthensis is a species of snake found in western Australia. The smallest member of the Pythonidae family, and known as the Pygmy python, the species is also termed the Ant-hill python for its occurrence in termite mounds. The specific epithet is derived from the state capital, Perth, but this is not within the distribution range.[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]
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| Species: | A. perthensis
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| Antaresia perthensis (Stull, 1932)
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- Common names: pygmy python, anthill python.
Description
Adults grow to about 50cm (20 inches) in length and have a weight near 210 grams. Neonates are about 8 inches (20 cm) in length and about 4 grams in weight. After a year they average about 25 grams in weight. This makes them smaller than either the Childrens python, A. childreni, and the spotted python, A. maculosa. A. perthensis usually has a redder background ground color than these other species and their spots fade, or become less distinct, as they mature. In contrast, the ground color is lighter in childreni and maculosa, while their spots stay better defined throughout their life.
Geographic range
Found in Australia in the northwest of Western Australia and on some coastal islands. The type locality given is "Perth, West Australia" (Western Australia); an erroneous assumption of the place where the specimen was collected. The unfamiliarity of Europeans with the place of a specimen's collection has given rise to other 'naming peculiarities'.[2] According to L.A. Smith (1985), the type locality is unknown.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ a b Browne-Cooper, R., Bush, B., Maryan, B., Robinson, D. (2007). "Houtman Abrolhos". Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 9778 1 920694 74 6.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters:|chapterurl=and|month=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Antaresia perthensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 17 August.
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External links
- Antaresia perthensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 September 2007.