| BURMESE PYTHON |
| Python molurus bivittatus |
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Range:
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Southeast Asia - Burma, Malaysia and Thailand. |
 The Burmese python is one of the largest of all snakes, due to the presence of a large number of vertebrae (up to 450). The female grows faster than the male and is ultimately larger. They are light yellowish cream with a series of brown elongated rectangular blotches edged with black. They have a number of facial pits, which are sensitive to changes in temperature, allowing the python to locate warm-blooded prey hiding in concealed areas. |
| Habitat: |
Jungles and grassy marshes. |
| Diet: |
Burmese pythons are carnivores, feeding mainly on birds and small mammals. |
| Status: |
Threatened, due to habitat depletion, continued demand for Burmese pythons in the pet trade, and hunting for their skins and flesh. |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Length: 16 - 23 ft (5 - 7 m).
Weight: Up to 200 lbs (90 kg). |
| Lifespan: |
20 - 25 years. |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
They are solitary animals and are generally only seen together during mating, which takes place in the spring. Females lay clutches of up to 100 eggs, which they incubate for two to three months. To keep their eggs warm they contract and shiver their muscles. |
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