Amethystine Python Size report

Amethystine python (scientific name: Morelia amethistina), also known as scrub python, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. This species is mainly distributed in Oceania in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and northeastern Australia. No subspecies have yet been identified.

The Amethystine python is a well-known reptile. It is the largest snake in Australia and one of the largest snakes in the world. This large snake is known for hunting large mammals such as kangaroos. It looks like a giant carpet python. Amethystine pythons are not poisonous, but their large size makes them a threat to children.

Amethystine pythons inhabit the shade of tropical rainforests, thickets, and exposed rocks. They are typically carnivorous; preys include bats, opossums, rodents, wallabies, kangaroos, freshwater crocodiles, and small birds. When hunting, they suffocate their prey by tightly coiling them. The following post introduces more facts about Amethystine Pythons' growth size and living habits.

Amethystine Python Size And Appearance

Amethystine pythons are distributed among many islands in the South Pacific, and there are about 30 known regional species, but none constitute subspecies. Individuals produced on each island vary greatly in size and appearance. The scales on the head of the Amethystine python are relatively large, and the cheek fossae are respectively located on the snout scales. Its eyes are large, and its mouth is curved with sharp teeth. Generally, the base colors are brown, olive, and dark yellow; depending on the different habitats, the black patterns on their bodies show horizontal stripes, no stripes, straight stripes, etc. Amethystine pythons are dotted with diamond or amethyst-shaped markings on their bodies, in addition to their large size. They are good at entanglement and climbing trees and are so powerful that they can entangle their prey until they die.

Average Size of Amethystine Python

The Amethystine Python is a large species of snake. The average body length of an adult Amethystine python is 3.5 to 5 meters, and the longest is 8.5 meters. A 5.5 meters young male at Melbourne Zoo is the largest individual ever kept in captivity. Its average weight reaches 5-15 kilograms. The large variation in adult size is primarily due to sexual dimorphism. Males of this species are generally smaller and slimmer than females. It is common among snakes for males to be smaller than females. The typical lifespan of Amethystine Python is between 15-20 years.

Living Habits

Amethystine pythons mainly inhabit rainforests, woodlands, and savannas, including tropical rainforests in Indonesia and Queensland, Australia. Amethystine pythons are nocturnal snakes that are good at climbing. Young snakes usually inhabit large trees, and when they grow up, they mostly move on land and often swim near water sources. During the mating peak, the Amethystine pythons are quite aggressive in courtship, and sometimes they will fight fiercely with their companions. In addition, Amethystine pythons are oviparous. A female snake can lay 5 to 21 eggs each time. During the hatching period, females do not eat and leave only to bask to raise their body temperature.

Conclusion

Popular among reptile lovers and known for its color and size, the Amethystine python is one of the largest snakes in Australia. It is also the largest native snake in Australia and Papua New Guinea, both in length and weight. Usually, the Amethystine pythons, which grow more than 4 meters, will often move on the ground. They are very irritable pythons, especially during the mating and estrus season. This large python is nocturnal, so the chances of attacking people are higher at night, so don't disturb them at night. The Amethystine python is not drought tolerant; it requires a large water basin and clean water daily.