Python (genus)

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Python
Temporal range: Miocene–Present
Python bivittatus tigrovyi piton.jpg
Burmese python (Python bivittatus)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Python
Daudin, 1803
Type species
Boa molura [ citation needed ]
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
List

Python is a genus of constricting snakes in the Pythonidae family native to the tropics and subtropics of the Eastern Hemisphere. [1]

Contents

The name python was proposed by François Marie Daudin in 1803 for non-venomous flecked snakes. [2] Currently, 10 python species are recognized as valid taxa. [3]

Three formerly considered python subspecies have been promoted, and a new species recognized.[ when? ]

Taxonomy

The generic name Python was proposed by François Marie Daudin in 1803 for non-venomous snakes with a flecked skin and a long split tongue. [2]

In 1993, seven python species were recognized as valid taxa. [4] On the basis of phylogenetic analyses, between seven and 13 python species are recognized. [5] [6]

SpeciesImage IUCN Red List and geographic range
Indian python (P. molurus; Linnaeus, 1758) [7] Python molurus molurus 2.jpg NT [8]
Python molurus Area.svg
Central African rock python (P. sebae; Gmelin, 1788) [9] Gfp-african-rock-python.jpg NT [10]
Natural Range of Python sebae.svg
Range shown in green
Ball python (P. regius; Shaw, 1802) [11] Female Ball python (Python regius).jpg NT [12]
Python regius distribution.svg
Burmese python (P. bivittatus; Kuhl, 1820) [13] Python bivittatus (30854313993).jpg VU [14]
Python bivittatus Area.svg
Southern African rock python (P. natalensis; Smith, 1833) [15] Python natalensis G. J. Alexander.JPG LC [16]
Natural Range of Python sebae.svg
Range shown in orange
Sumatran short-tailed python (P. curtus; Schlegel, 1872) [17] Python curtus (2).jpg LC [18]
Geographic distributions-Python.curtus-brongersmai-breitensteini.jpg
Range shown in yellow
Bornean python (P. breitensteini; Steindachner, 1881) [19] Python breitensteini (13106768574).jpg LC [20]
Geographic distributions-Python.curtus-brongersmai-breitensteini.jpg
Range shown in green
Angolan python (P. anchietae; Bocage, 1887) Angolan Dwarf Python (Python anchietae).jpg LC [21]
Approximate Distribution of Python anchietae.jpg [21]
Blood python (P. brongersmai; Stull, 1938) (formerly P. curtus brongersmai) Python brongersmai, Brongersma's short-tailed python.jpg LC [22]
Geographic distributions-Python.curtus-brongersmai-breitensteini.jpg
Range shown in red
Myanmar short-tailed python (P. kyaiktiyo; Zug, Gotte & Jacobs, 2011) [23] P.kyaiktiyo II.png VU [24]
West of the Tenasserim Hills, Myanmar [24]
† European python ( Python europaeus ; Szyndlar & Rage, 2003) [25] EX

Extinct species known from the discovery of a trunk vertebrae dated to the Miocene epoch, found in Vieux-Collonges and La Grive-Saint-Alban, France. [25]

Distribution and habitat

Python anchietae Angolian-Python.jpg
Python anchietae

In Africa, pythons are native to the tropics south of the Sahara, but not in the extreme south-western tip of southern Africa (Western Cape) or in Madagascar. In Asia, they occur from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, including the Nicobar Islands, through Myanmar, east to Indochina, southern China, Hong Kong and Hainan, as well as in the Malayan region of Indonesia and the Philippines. [1]

Invasive

Some suggest that P. bivittatus and P. sebae have the potential to be problematic invasive species in South Florida. [26] In early 2016, after a culling operation yielded 106 pythons, Everglades National Park officials suggested that "thousands" may live within the park, and that the species has been breeding there for some years. More recent data suggest that these pythons would not withstand winter climates north of Florida, contradicting previous research suggesting a more significant geographic potential range. [27]

Uses

Ball pythons commonly exhibit mutations, such as this "Spider" morph, and are popular among snake keepers. Spider Morph Ball Python.png
Ball pythons commonly exhibit mutations, such as this "Spider" morph, and are popular among snake keepers.

Python skin is used to make clothing, such as vests, belts, boots and shoes, or fashion accessories such as handbags. It may also be stretched and formed as the sound board of some string musical instruments, such as the erhu spike-fiddle, sanxian and the sanshin lutes. [28] With a high demand of snake skin in the current fashion industry, countries in Africa and Southern Asia partake in the legal and illegal selling of python skin. Providing an extremely low pay for the hunters with an extremely high selling product for the consumers, there is an enormous gap between the beginning and end of the snake skin trade. [29]

As pets

Many Python species, such as P. regius, P. brongersmai, P. bivittatus and M. reticulatus, are popular to keep as pets due to their ease of care, docile temperament, and vibrant colors, with some rare mutations having been sold for several thousands of dollars. Pythons in the pet trade are sourced from the wild, or from captive females that were taken from the wild ('captive-born'), or from parents that themselves were born in a captive setting ('captive-bred') [30] Despite controversy that has arisen from media reports, with proper safety procedures pet pythons are relatively safe to own. [31] [32]

Etymology

The word 'Python' is derived from the Latin word 'pȳthon' and the Greek word 'πύθων', both referring to the "serpent slain, who was fabled to have been called Pythius in commemoration of his victory near Delphi by Apollo according to the myth". [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pythonidae</span> Family of snakes

The Pythonidae, commonly known as pythons, are a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world. Ten genera and 39 species are currently recognized. Being naturally non-venomous, pythons must constrict their prey to suffocate it prior to consumption. Pythons will typically strike at and bite their prey of choice to gain hold of it; they then must use physical strength to constrict their prey, by coiling their muscular bodies around the animal, effectively suffocating it before swallowing whole. This is in stark contrast to venomous snakes such as the rattlesnake, for example, which delivers a swift, venomous bite but releases, waiting as the prey succumbs to envenomation before being consumed. Collectively, the pythons are well-documented and -studied as constrictors, much like other non-venomous snakes, including the boas and even kingsnakes of the New World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reticulated python</span> Species of snake

The reticulated python is a python species native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the world's longest snake, and the third heaviest after the green anaconda and Burmese python. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List because of its wide distribution. In several countries in its range, it is hunted for its skin, for use in traditional medicine, and for sale as pets. Due to this, reticulated pythons are one of the most economically important reptiles worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ball python</span> Species of constricting snake

The ball python, also called the royal python, is a python species native to West and Central Africa, where it lives in grasslands, shrublands and open forests. This nonvenomous constrictor is the smallest of the African pythons, growing to a maximum length of 182 cm (72 in). The name "ball python" refers to its tendency to curl into a ball when stressed or frightened.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burmese python</span> Species of large, nonvenomous snake

The Burmese python is one of the largest species of snakes. It is native to a large area of Southeast Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Until 2009, it was considered a subspecies of the Indian python, but is now recognized as a distinct species. It is an invasive species in Florida as a result of the pet trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian python</span> Species of snake

The Indian python is a large python species native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is also known by the common names black-tailed python, Indian rock python, and Asian rock python. Although smaller than its close relative the Burmese python, it is still among the largest snakes in the world. It is generally lighter colored than the Burmese python and reaches usually 3 m. Like all pythons, it is nonvenomous.

<i>Oxyrhopus petolarius</i> Species of snake

Oxyrhopus petolarius, commonly known as the forest flame snake, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Central and South America. There are three recognized subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumatran short-tailed python</span> Species of snake

The Sumatran short-tailed python is a species of the family Pythonidae, a nonvenomous snake native to Sumatra.

<i>Chersobius signatus</i> Species of reptile

Chersobius signatus is the world's smallest species of tortoise. The species is commonly known as the speckled tortoise and also known locally as the speckled padloper and internationally as the speckled Cape tortoise. A member of the genus Chersobius, it is endemic to South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borneo python</span> Species of snake

The Borneo python, also known commonly as the Borneo short-tailed python, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to the island of Borneo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genet (animal)</span> Genus of carnivorans

A genet is a member of the genus Genetta, which consists of 17 species of small African carnivorans. The common genet is the only genet present in Europe and occurs in the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central African rock python</span> Species of snake

The Central African rock python is a species of large constrictor snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of 10 living species in the genus Python.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelvic spur</span> Modified reptilian appendages

Pelvic spurs are external protrusions found around the cloaca in certain superfamilies of snakes belonging to the greater infraorder Alethinophidia. These spurs are made up of the remnants of the femur bone, which is then covered by a corneal spur, or claw-like structure. This femur derives from ancestral hind limbs found in the most recent common ancestor of modern snakes and the other reptiles of the clade Toxicofera, many of which have fully functional front and hind limbs. Due to the fact that the spurs derive from the ancestral state of functional legs, but are no longer functional for locomotion specifically, these structures meet the criteria for being considered vestigial. Nonetheless, uses for the structures have been thoroughly documented. Species that have external spurs have corresponding muscles, neurological structures, and vascularization to allow for independent movement. The spurs are more pronounced and visible in male specimens and have been observed in use during courtship behavior. The spurs are specifically used in the clasping and stimulation of females by males during courtship and mating. In certain species, males will also use their spurs to engage in combat with one another.

Snakeskin may either refer to the skin of a live snake, the shed skin of a snake after molting, or to a type of leather that is made from the hide of a dead snake. Snakeskin and scales can have varying patterns and color formations, providing protection via camouflage from predators. The colors and iridescence in these scales are largely determined by the types and amount of chromatophores located in the dermis of the snake skin. The snake's skin and scales are also an important feature to their locomotion, providing protection and minimizing friction when gliding over surfaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oenpelli python</span> Species of snake

The Oenpelli python or Oenpelli rock python is a species of large snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to the sandstone massif area of the western Arnhem Land region in the Northern Territory of Australia. There are no subspecies that are recognised as being valid. It has been called the rarest python in the world. Two notable characteristics of the species are the unusually large size of its eggs and its ability to change colour. It is the longest snake native to the Northern Territory.

<i>Python brongersmai</i> Species of snake

Python brongersmai is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia.

<i>Malayopython</i> Genus of snakes

Malayopython is a genus of constricting snakes in the family Pythonidae. The genus is native to India and Southeast Asia. It contains two species, both of which were previously classified within the genus Python. However, multiple studies recovered these species as distinct. Known as the "reticulatus clade", it was eventually found to be a sister lineage to a lineage giving rise to the Indo-Australian pythons rather than the genus Python.

The dwarf Burmese python is an insular dwarf subspecies of the Burmese python. The dwarf Burmese python is native to the Indonesian islands of Java, Bali, Sumbawa, and Sulawesi. The dwarf subspecies seems to have a maximum length of 5.9 ft (1.8 m). In 2009, the dwarf Burmese python was officially recognized as a subspecies of the Burmese python.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern African rock python</span> Species or subspecies of python

The Southern African rock python is a large python species native to Southern Africa inhabiting savanna and woodland. It was first described by Andrew Smith in 1833. Growing a length of more than 5 m (16 ft), this is one of the largest snakes in the world.

References

  1. 1 2 McDiarmid, R. W.; Campbell, J. A.; Touré, T. (1999). "Python". Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Volume 1. Washington, DC: Herpetologists' League. ISBN   1893777014.
  2. 1 2 Daudin, F. M. (1803). "Python". Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière, des reptiles. Tome 8. Paris: De l'Imprimerie de F. Dufart. p. 384.
  3. ↑ Barker, D. G.; Barker, T. M.; Davis, M. A.; Schuett, G. W. (2015). "A review of the systematics and taxonomy of Pythonidae: an ancient serpent lineage". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 175 (1): 1−19. doi: 10.1111/zoj.12267 .
  4. ↑ Kluge, A. G. (1993). "Aspidites and the phylogeny of pythonine snakes". Records of the Australian Museum (Supplement 19): 1–77.
  5. ↑ Lawson, R.; Slowinski, J. B.; Burbrink, F. T. (2004). "A molecular approach to discerning the phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic snake Xenophidion schaeferi among the Alethinophidia". Journal of Zoology. 263 (3): 285–294. doi:10.1017/s0952836904005278.
  6. ↑ Reynolds, R. G.; Niemiller, M. L.; Revell, L. J. (2014). "Toward a tree-of-life for the boas and pythons: multilocus species-level phylogeny with unprecedented taxon sampling". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 71 (71): 201–213. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.11.011. PMID   24315866.
  7. ↑ Linnaeus, C. (1758). "Coluber molurus". Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. 1 (Tenth reformed ed.). Holmiae: Laurentii Salvii. p. 225.
  8. ↑ Aengals, A.; Das, A.; Mohapatra, P.; Srinivasulu, C.; Srinivasulu, B.; Shankar, G. & Murthy, B.H.C. (2021). "Python molurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T58894358A1945283. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  9. ↑ Gmelin, J. F. (1788). "Coluber sebae". Caroli a Linné. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. I, Part III (13., aucta, reformata ed.). Lipsiae: Georg Emanuel Beer. p. 1118.
  10. ↑ Alexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A.; Penner, J.; Luiselli, L.; Jallow, M.; Segniagbeto, G.; Niagate, B.; Howell, K.; Beraduccii, J.; Msuya, C.A. & Ngalason, W. (2021). "Python sebae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T13300572A13300582. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  11. ↑ Shaw, G. (1802). "Royal Boa". General zoology, or Systematic natural history. Volume III, Part II. London: G. Kearsley. pp. 347–348.
  12. ↑ D'Cruze, N.; Wilms, T.; Penner, J.; Luiselli, L.; Jallow, M.; Segniagbeto, G.; Niagate, B. & Schmitz, A. (2021). "Python regius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T177562A15340592. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  13. ↑ Kuhl, H. (1820). "Python bivittatus mihi". Beiträge zur Zoologie und vergleichenden Anatomie. Frankfurt am Main: Verlag der Hermannschen Buchhandlung. p. 94.
  14. ↑ Stuart, B.; Nguyen, T.Q.; Thy, N.; Grismer, L.; Chan-Ard, T.; Iskandar, D.; Golynsky, E. & Lau, M.W. (2019) [errata version of 2019 assessment]. "Python bivittatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T193451A151341916. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  15. ↑ Smith, A. (1849). "Python natalensis". Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa : consisting chiefly of figures and descriptions of the objects of natural history collected during an expedition into the interior of South Africa, in the years 1834, 1835, and 1836; fitted out by "the Cape of Good Hope Association for exploring Central Africa" : together with a summary of African zoology, and an inquiry into the geographical ranges of species in that quarter of the globe. London: Smith, Elder and Co. pp. 42–44.
  16. ↑ Alexander, G.J. & Tolley, K.A. (2021). "Python natalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T13300560A13300564. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  17. ↑ Schlegel, H. (1872). "De Pythons". In Witkamp, P. H. (ed.). De Diergaarde van het Koninklijk Zoölogisch Genootschap Natura Artis Magistra te Amsterdam: De Kruipende Dieren. Amsterdam: Van Es. pp. 53–54.
  18. ↑ Inger, R.F.; Iskandar, D.; Lilley, R.; Jenkins, H. & Das, I. (2014). "Python curtus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T192244A2060581. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  19. ↑ Steindachner, F. (1880). "Über eine neue Pythonart (Python breitensteini) aus Borneo". Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien. 82: 267−280.
  20. ↑ Inger, R.F.; Iskandar, D.; Lilley, R.; Jenkins, H.; Das, I. (2012). "Python breitensteini". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T192013A2028005. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  21. 1 2 Baptista, N.; Becker, F.; Conradie, W.; Bauer, A.M. & Ceríaco, L.M.P. (2021). "Python anchietae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T177539A120594491. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  22. ↑ Grismer, L. & Chan-Ard, T. (2012). "Python brongersmai". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T192169A2050353. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192169A2050353.en . Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  23. ↑ Zug, G. R.; Gotte, S. W.; Jacobs, J. F. (2011). "Pythons in Burma: Short-tailed python (Reptilia: Squamata)". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 124 (2): 112−136. doi:10.2988/10-34.1. S2CID   86424371.
  24. 1 2 Wogan, G. & Chan-Ard, T. (2012). "Python kyaiktiyo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T199854A2614411. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T199854A2614411.en . Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  25. 1 2 Szyndlar, Z.; Rage, J. C. (2003). "Python europaeus". Non-erycine Booidea from the Oligocene and Miocene of Europe. Kraków: Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals. pp. 68−72.
  26. ↑ "Python Snakes, An Invasive Species In Florida, Could Spread To One Third Of US". ScienceDaily. 2008. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  27. ↑ Avery, M. L.; Engeman, R. M.; Keacher, K. L.; Humphrey, J. S.; Bruce, W. E.; Mathies, T. C.; Mauldin, R. E. (2010). "Cold weather and the potential range of invasive Burmese pythons". Biological Invasions. 12 (11): 3649−3652. doi:10.1007/s10530-010-9761-4. S2CID   2060365.
  28. ↑ "About Sanshin: Introduction to the asian banjo - the Okinawan sanshin". Archived from the original on 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
  29. ↑ Wahab; Maulany, R. I.; Nasri & Nirsyawita (2020). "Hunting and trading activities of reticulated python (Python reticulatus) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia: A report from the field". IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 486 (1): 12029–. Bibcode:2020E&ES..486a2029W. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/486/1/012029 . S2CID   219739375.
  30. ↑ Nijman, Vincent (2022-11-05). "Harvest quotas, free markets and the sustainable trade in pythons". Nature Conservation. 48: 99–121. doi: 10.3897/natureconservation.48.80988 . ISSN   1314-3301. S2CID   248733239.
  31. ↑ "Malayopython reticulatus".
  32. ↑ "Playing with the Big Boys: Handling Large Constrictors". www.anapsid.org. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  33. ↑ Lewis, C. T.; Short, C. (1879). "Pȳthon". A Latin Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
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