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| Shocking facts about pythons |
1. Large Size
Pythons are among the largest snakes in the world.
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| Reticulated Python |
Reticulated Python, native to southeast asia, is known for its incredible length, with the longest recorded specimen measuring 32 feet 9.5 inches.
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| Burmese Python |
2. Non-Venomous
Unlike some other large snakes, pythons are non-venomous. They kill their prey through constriction, They wrap around their prey and tighten their coils every time the prey exhales, eventually causing circulatory arrest rather than suffocation.
3. Diverse Habitats
Pythons are found in a variety of habitats, including rainforests, grasslands, swamps, and deserts, depending on the species.
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| African Rock Python |
African Rock Python found in savannas, grasslands, and near water sources in sub-saharan africa.
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| Green Tree Python |
Green Tree Python Inhabits rainforests of New Guinea, Indonesia, and Australia, often found in the forest canopy.
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| Ball Python |
Ball Python Prefers grasslands and shrublands in west and central africa, often taking shelter in burrows
4. Parental Care
Female pythons exhibit parental care, which is rare among snakes. Female pythons coil around their eggs to incubate them, maintaining the temperature through muscular contractions known as shivering thermogenesis. They remain with the eggs until they hatch but do not provide care afterward.
5. Heat-Sensitive Pits
Many pythons have heat-sensitive pits along their jaws, which help them detect warm-blooded prey even in the dark. These pits are located along the upper and lower jaws and allow pythons to detect infrared radiation. This adaptation is particularly useful for nocturnal hunting, enabling them to locate warm-blooded prey in total darkness.
6. Slow Metabolism
Pythons have a very slow metabolism. After a large meal, they can go weeks or even months without eating again. After consuming a large meal, a python's digestive system becomes highly active, breaking down and absorbing nutrients. Once digestion is complete, their metabolism slows down significantly, allowing them to go without food for extended periods.
7. Invasive Species
The Burmese python is an invasive species in the Florida Everglades, causing significant ecological damage by preying on native wildlife.The Burmese python's introduction to the Florida Everglades, primarily through pet releases, has led to drastic declines in native mammal populations such as raccoons, opossums, and deer. Efforts to control the population include organized hunts and research into biological control methods.
8. Impressive Flexibility
Pythons have extremely flexible jaws that allow them to consume prey much larger than their head. Their lower jaw is not fused to the skull, enabling it to stretch wide. Pythons' lower jaw bones are connected by flexible ligaments, allowing them to open their mouths wide enough to swallow prey several times larger than their head. Their skin and stomach can also stretch to accommodate large meals.
9. Color Variations
Pythons exhibit a wide range of colors and patterns, which provide camouflage in their natural environments. Some species are brightly colored, while others are more muted.
Ball Python known for a wide variety of morphs or color and pattern variations, due to selective breeding. Colors range from standard brown and black to bright yellow and pure white.
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| Green Tree Python |
Green Tree Python typically bright green, but juveniles can be yellow or red. These color changes help with camouflage in their arboreal habitats.
10. Lifespan
Pythons can live a long time, with some species living over 20 years in the wild and even longer in captivity under optimal conditions. In captivity, pythons often live longer due to consistent food supply, lack of predators, and medical care. The average lifespan in captivity can exceed 30 years, with some individuals reaching up to 40 years.