Diamond python
| Diamond python | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | Morelia spilota spilota
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Morelia spilota spilota La Cépède, 1804
| |
The Diamond python (Morelia spilota spilota) is a black snake with white or cream and gold markings. The snake inhabits the South-Eastern Victoria.
The average lifespan of the snake if kept in good health is 15 to 18 years. Depending on diet and nutrition, a diamond python can grow to 3 meters long and weigh over 5 kg. Whilst breeding, a diamond python may lay up to 50 eggs depending on variables such as temperature and diet. This genus of reptile is renowned for the high variability of batch sizes. After laying, the female coils around the nest of eggs to protect them and keep them warm through using her musco-skeletal tissue to incubate the heat. This maternal care, which is uncommon in snakes, ceases once the offspring hatch. The diamond python is also under threat of being endangered because of people destroying the snake's habitat. It is nocturnal. It lives in urban areas, forests, woodlands and has been remarked to even exist in areas that receive snowfall. Its main prey is small mammals, bats, birds, and lizards. Diamond pythons in captivity are normally fed live or frozen rats. The snake is non-venomous but can inflict a strong grip upon its prey. The diamond python make one of the most popular of pets for those that keep reptiles due to their friendly nature towards humans. Even if a human is bitten it is generally as a warning, the snake is so quick that a person bitten may not realise such until they notice the blood on their hand. The teeth can also break off and remain embedded in the victim or some other object. In the case of caring for a pet diamond python, be sure to use newspaper or a form of litter to line that cage that is not adhesive as problems have been reported whereby during feeding the moisture on the prey item combined can attract the litter result in it being "glued" inside the mouth.