Talk:Central African rock python

Natalensis is now a species on its own

Please update.

Python natalensis is now a subspecies on its own. And seperated from sebae.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1643835265678127?view=permalink&id=1788498164545169

http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Python&species=natalensis&search_param=%28%28taxon%3D%27pythonidae%27%29%29

AWDF 09:39, 3 June 2018 (UTC)

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1643835265678127?view=permalink&id=1788498164545169

The previous classification was changed in 1999. So this wikipedia page needs an update.

(Previously) Northern African Rock Python P.sebae sebae Southern African Rock Python P.sebae natalensis

(After 1999) as classified by cites African Rock Python Python sebae

Southern African Python aka Natal Python Python natalensis

Natalensis is lifted to its own species.

You can contact also rangers@africanwildlifedefenceforce.com for extra verification AWDF 09:48, 3 June 2018 (UTC)

IUCN now shows "Central African python" (P. sebae) and "Southern African Rock Python" (P. natalensis) as two separate species. So does ITIS. ITIS has marked the subspecies names as invalid and the two species-level names as valid. —⁠ ⁠BarrelProof (talk) 00:37, 5 June 2022 (UTC)

Is this an apex predator?

I think this edit is incorrect but I don't know. Invasive Spices (talk) 9 April 2022 (UTC)

Requested move 5 June 2022

The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The result of the move request was: moved. Uncontroversial. (non-admin closure) — Ceso femmuin mbolgaig mbung, mellohi! (投稿) 17:11, 13 June 2022 (UTC)

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• African rock python → Central African rock python
• Southern rock python → Southern African rock python

– or Python sebaePython sebae and Python natalensisPython natalensis. ITIS and IUCN show these as separate species with the suggested article names as the primary common names. ITIS has marked the subspecies-level names as invalid and the two species-level names as valid. The Southern rock pythonSouthern rock python article already includes "African" in the boldfaced common name in its opening sentence. —⁠ ⁠BarrelProof (talk) 00:50, 5 June 2022 (UTC)

Support. I don't see Central African rock python at ITIS, only at the IUCN. Reptile database uses Southern African rock python but not Central African rock python. However, before the species split, the two subspecies were commonly known as the Southern and Central African rock python (e.g. here, here and others), so the IUCN is just using the common names of the subspecies for the same snakes at species level in accord with the revised taxonomy. I see know reason not to follow the IUCN. —  Jts1882 | talk  06:01, 7 June 2022 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

 Done Dr. Vogel (talk) 17:43, 13 June 2022 (UTC)

Removed items

Removed these items, as they will refer to Python natalensis, not Python sebae, or are uncertain:

• thumb|right|Constricting a pregnant goat [in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe]
• thumb|right|Captive female - no provenance, so uncertain (is it identifiable?)

• In 1979 in Waterberg District, Limpopo Province (then Northern Transvaal), South Africa, a 4.5 m (15 ft) Central African rock python killed a 13-year-old boy. The victim died due to suffocation and internal injuries; his body was released by the python after intervention by an adult man some 20 minutes after the attack began. The victim's head was covered in saliva, and scientists thought "it could have easily succeeded in swallowing" the 1.3 m (4.3 ft), 45 kilograms (99 lb) boy had it not been interrupted.

• In 2002 near Durban, South Africa, a 10-year-old boy was reportedly swallowed by a Central African rock python over a three-hour period, as seven other children stayed hidden in a mango tree. The animal was not captured and the story could not be verified, although detailed descriptions of the snake's markings and predation technique were reported to have seemed credible to a local snake park operator.

The attacks by pet pythons at various locations also need to be checked for identification, particularly if they preceed widespread knowledge of there being two species of rock pythons. - MPF (talk) 22:37, 11 July 2025 (UTC)