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Python molurus

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Revision as of 16:38, 6 September 2015 by Rus793 (talk | changes) (added Category:Snakes using HotCat)

Python molurus
Near Nagarhole National Park
Scientific classification
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P. molurus
Binomial name
Python molurus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution of Indian python
Synonyms
  • [Coluber] Molurus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Boa Ordinata Schneider, 1801
  • Boa Cinerae Schneider, 1801
  • Boa Castanea Schneider, 1801
  • Boa Albicans Schneider, 1801
  • Boa Orbiculata Schneider, 1801
  • Coluber Boaeformis Shaw, 1802
  • Python bora Daudin, 1803
  • Python tigris Daudin, 1803
  • Python tigris castaneus
    - Daudin, 1803
  • Python tigris albanicus [sic]
    - Daudin, 1803
  • Python ordinatus - Daudin, 1803
  • Python Javanicus Kuhl, 1820
  • Python molurus - Gray, 1842
  • Python Jamesonii Gray, 1842
  • Python (Asterophis) tigris
    - Fitzinger, 1843
  • Python molurus - Boulenger, 1893
  • Python molurus [molurus]
    - F. Werner, 1899
  • [Python molurus] var. ocellatus
    F. Werner, 1899
  • [Python molurus] var. intermedia
    F. Werner, 1899
  • Python molurus molurus
    - Stull, 1935
  • Python molurus - M.A. Smith, 1943
  • Python molurus pimbura Deraniyagala, 1945
  • Python molurus molurus
    - Stimson, 1969
  • [Python molurus] var. [molurus]
    - Deuve, 1970
  • Python molurus - Kluge, 1993[1]

Python molurus is a large nonvenomous python species found in many tropic and subtropic areas of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is known by the common names Indian python,[2] black-tailed python[3] and Indian rock python. The species is limited to Southern Asia. It is generally lighter colored than the Burmese python. It reaches usually 3 metres (9.8 ft).[4]

Common names

Indian python,[2] black-tailed python,[3] Indian rock python, Asian rock python.[5][6] Referred to as "Ajingar" in Nepali,"Ajgar" in Hindi and Marathi, "Azdaha" in Urdu and "Awjogor" in Bengali. In Sri Lanka the species is commonly referred to as "Pimbura-පිඹුරා" in Sinhala. The subspecies Python molurus pimbura was thought to have stemmed from the alias given in Sri Lanka. However the pimbura, or Ceylonese Python is no longer considered a valid subspecies or locality. As a result they are known as the same animal.

Description

The color pattern is whitish or yellowish with the blotched patterns varying from shades of tan to dark brown. This varies with the terrain and habitat. Specimens from the hill forests of Western Ghats and Assam are darker.[7] Those from the Deccan Plateau and East Coast are usually lighter.[7]

In Pakistan, Indian Pythons commonly reach a length of 2.4–3 metres (7.9–9.8 ft).[8] In India, the subspecies of the same name grows to an average of 3 metres (9.8 ft).[4][7] This value is supported by a 1990 study in Keoladeo National Park, where the biggest 25% of the python population was 2.7–3.3 metres (8.9–10.8 ft) long. Only two specimen even measured nearly 3.6 metres (12 ft).[9] Because of confusion with the Burmese python, exaggerations and stretched skins in the past, the maximum length of this subspecies is hard to tell. The longest scientifically recorded specimen, which came from Pakistan, was 4.6 metres (15 ft) in length and weighed 52 kilograms (115 lb).[8]

References

  1. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Python molurus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Ditmars RL. 1933. Reptiles of the World. Revised Edition. The MacMillan Company. 329 pp. 89 plates.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Wall, F. (1912), "A popular treatise on the common Indian snakes – The Indian Python", Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 21: 447–476.
  5. Jerry G. Walls: "The Living Pythons";T. F. H. Publications, 1998: pp. 131-142; ISBN 0-7938-0467-1
  6. Mark O’Shea: „Boas and Pythons of the World“; New Holland Publishers, 2007; pp 80-87; ISBN 978-1-84537-544-7
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Rhomulus Whitaker: „Common Indian Snakes – A Field Guide“; The Macmillan Company of India Limited, 1987; pp. 6-9; SBN 33390-198-3
  8. 8.0 8.1 Minton, S. A. (1966), "A contribution to the herpetology of West Pakistan", Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 134 (2): 117–118.
  9. Bhupathy, S. (1990), "Blotch structure in individual identification of the Indian Python (Python molurus molurus) and its possible usage in population estimation", Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 87 (3): 399–404.

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