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Amethystine Python
Photo: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey
BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide Amethystine Python (Morelia amethistina)
- As one of the ‘giant’ snakes, it has been recorded at a length of up to
8.5 metres (28 ft), found near Gordonvale, but are more frequently found at lengths of
3-5m (10-16 ft).
- It acquires its name from the fact that when viewed from certain angles in direct
sunlight, it displays an Amethyst coloured shine all over its body.
- It is a slender python for its size and is not able to kill large animals that
the related Anaconda of South America and the Pythons of Africa and Asia can.
Markings:
- It has a series of pits along its jaw which are very heat sensitive organs. This
enables the snake to locate its warm-blooded prey.
- This snake can be differentiated from the Carpet Python by the fact that is has a
lesser number of large tortoise-like platelets on its head.
- Spurs at each side of the anus in pythons are the
remains of legs, indicating the evolutionary link of all snakes with a
lizard-like ancestry.
(Source: Environmental Protection Agency)
Habitat:
- These include the wetter tropical rainforests, monsoon forests and vine forests.
Hunting:
- There is no record of Amethystine Pythons being a danger to human beings and will
do everything possible to avoid human contact.
- When small animals come within striking distance, the python seizes its prey with
its gaping mouth, and throws coils of its body around the prey which constricts and
suffocates the animal. The coiling of the snake around its prey also prevents the animals
from moving and potentially inflicting harm upon the snake. This is done
because pythons do not posses any poison glands.
- Night time gives pythons a distinct advantage. Apart from smell,
they rely on heat-sensing organs below their jaws to detect warmth
radiating from bird and mammal prey. During the day, ground heated by
the sun confuses this heat-picture, but at night, when the surroundings
are cool, a potential warm dinner stands out. (Source:
Department of
Environment)
Chambers' resident Amethystine Python sunning
itself on the log piles.
Note the Large bulge in it's stomach (probably a Pademelon)
Diet:
- A pythons prey includes fruit bats, possums, rats, pademelons and ground dwelling
birds.
Viewing Opportunities:
- During your stay at The Chamber's, the best viewing situation for Amethystine
Pythons is the 10:15am wildlife cruise on Lake Barrine.
- During winter they can sometimes be seen sunning themselves on log piles at The
Chamber's.
- If you have a keen interest in viewing them, please let John
Chambers know and
he will advise you of any sightings during your stay.
- Sometimes can be seen on the top road when driving home at night.
Additional Information:
Pythons: Family
Pythonidae
Pythons are mainly found in the
Old World tropics and subtropics, including Africa, Asia and Australia. They
are best developed in Australia (Shine 1998) where they are found from the
rainforest, to the woodland, to the desert, and range in size from the
Amethystine Python, one of the world's top five biggest snakes to the tiny
60 centimetres `Pygmy Python' Antaresia perthensis (Shine 1998).
Pythons have a very interesting
reproductive cycle that sets them apart from the related Boas. First, they
lay eggs. Then the mother curls around these eggs and incubates them with
it's own body heat. Of course, being ectothermic, pythons do not have a
naturally occurring high body temperature, thus they have to produce this.
This is done by gathering it from the sun by basking, or by a process known
as shivering thermogeneisis. Essentially, the python vibrates it's body with
it's muscles, in effect it is shivering to provide warmth for the eggs to
develop (Shine 1998). During this time the mother does not eat, uses up much
energy and may loose up to half her own body weight and be another few years
until she is sufficiently recovered to mate again (Shine 1998). After the
eggs hatch, the parent no longer looks after them (Shine 1998).
Script:
Courtesy of Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide
Amethystine Python:
Morelia amethystina
This is Australia's biggest
snake. It is common in tropical rainforest, and can also sometimes be found
in the adjacent woodlands. They are generally nocturnal and arboreal (Tory
2000), although they can be seen sunning themselves during the day, and
larger specimens probably spend more time on the ground than smaller ones.
Script:
Courtesy of Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide
Additional Amethystine
Python Photos
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