Reticulated Python

Habitat

Tropical forests and nearby grassland and often found beside rivers and lakes.

Wild Diet

When young, these constrictors feed on small mammals such as rats; as they grow bigger they eat larger prey including monkeys and pigs.

Behaviour

Reticulated pythons have amazing patterns on their bodies which have evolved to help them blend into the leaf litter of the rainforests. These patterns are a mixture of light browns, creams, yellow dark brown and even black.

Breeding

Clutches of 60 to100 eggs are laid. The female coils around the eggs and shivers to raise her body temperature during incubation which last 2 to 3 months. Young hatchlings, approximately 60cm long, are left to fend for themselves, initially growing at a rate of about 60cm a year.

Threats

Habitat destruction, persecution.

Conservation

In spite of being hunted for their skins and killed by humans whenever encountered, these snakes are currently not threatened, mainly because of their fast breeding rate.