Woma python

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Woma python
Aspidites ramsayi -Australia Zoo, Queensland, Australia-8a.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Aspidites
Species:
A. ramsayi
Binomial name
Aspidites ramsayi
(Macleay, 1882)
Woma.png
Distribution of the woma
Synonyms [2]

The woma python (Aspidites ramsayi), also known commonly as Ramsay's python, the sand python, [3] [4] [5] [6] and simply the woma, [7] is a species of snake in the family Pythonidae, endemic to Australia. Once common throughout Western Australia, it has become critically endangered in some regions.

Contents

Taxonomy

William John Macleay originally described the species in 1882 as Aspidiotes ramsayi. The specific name, ramsayi, is in honor of Australian zoologist Edward Pierson Ramsay. [8] [9]

This is one of two species of Aspidites , the pitless pythons, an Australian genus of the family Pythonidae. The generic name, Aspidites, translates to "shield bearer" in reference to the symmetrically shaped head scales. [10]

Description

Adults of A. ramsayi typically are around 1.5 m (4.5 feet) in total length (including tail). The head is narrow, and the eyes are small. The body is broad and flattish in profile, while the tail tapers to a thin point.

The dorsal scales are small and smooth, with 50–65 rows at midbody. The ventral scales are 280–315 in number, with an undivided anal plate, and 40–45 mostly single subcaudal scales. Some of the posterior subcaudals may be irregularly divided.

The dorsal color may be pale brown to nearly black. The pattern consists of a ground color that varies from medium brown and olive to lighter shades of orange, pink, and red, overlaid with darker striped or brindled markings. The belly is cream or light yellow with brown and pink blotches. The scales around the eyes are usually a darker color than the rest of the head.

Aspidites ramsayi may reach a total length of 2.3 m (7.5 ft), with a snout-vent length (SVL) of 2.0 m (6.6 ft).

Snakes of the genus Aspidites lack the heat-sensing pits of all other pythons. A. ramsayi is similar in appearance to A. melanocephalus , but without an obvious neck. The coloration or desire to locate this species may lead to confusion with the venomous species Pseudonaja nuchalis , commonly known as the gwardar. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Aspidites ramsayi lives in the west and center of Australia, from Western Australia through southern Northern Territory and northern South Australia to southern Queensland and northwestern New South Wales. Its range may be discontinuous. The type locality is "near Forte Bourke" [New South Wales, Australia]. [2]

The range in Southwest Australia extends from Shark Bay, along the coast and inland regions, and was previously common on sandplains. The species was recorded in regions to the south and east, with once extensive wheatbelt and goldfield populations. [3]

Conservation status

A. ramsayi is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [1]

The Adelaide Zoo in South Australia is co-ordinating a captive breeding program for the species, and the offspring raised have been released into the Arid Recovery Reserve in the states north with no success due to mulga snake, Pseudechis australis , predation.

Many populations in the southwest of the country, since the 1960s, became critically endangered by altered land use. The sharp decline in numbers, without an authenticated record since 1989, was most notable in the Wheatbelt areas. [3]

Behavior

Aspidites ramsayi is largely nocturnal. By day this snake shelters in hollow logs or under leaf debris. When travelling across hot sands or other surfaces it lifts its body off the ground and reaches far forward before pushing off the ground again, having only a few inches of its body touching the ground at a time.

Feeding

Aspidites ramsayi preys upon a variety of terrestrial vertebrates such as small mammals, ground birds, and lizards. It catches much of its prey in burrows where there is not enough room to maneuver coils around the prey; instead, the woma pushes a loop of its body against the animal to pin it against the side of the burrow. Many adult womas are covered in scars from retaliating rodents as this technique does not kill prey as quickly as normal constriction. [11]

Although this species will take warm-blooded prey when offered, A. ramsayi preys mainly on reptiles. Perhaps due to this, species within the genus Aspidites lack the characteristic heat sensing pits of pythons, although they possess an equivalent sensory structure in the rostral scale. [12]

Reproduction

Aspidites ramsayi is oviparous, with five to 20 eggs per clutch. Females remain coiled around their eggs until they hatch, with the incubation period lasting 2–3 months. An adult female about 4–5 years old and 5 ft (about 1.5 m) in total length usually lays about 11 eggs.

Captivity

Considered to be more active than many pythons, as well as being a very docile and "easy to handle" snake, the woma is highly sought after in the reptile and exotic pet trade. It is one of the hardiest python species in captivity, often enthusiastically accepting prey and other items. One made headlines in May 2015 for requiring surgery to remove the feeding tongs it had swallowed as well as its meal. [13] This snake will breed in captivity. [ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<i>Aspidites</i> Genus of snakes

Aspidites is a genus of pythons endemic to Australia. The name can be translated as "shield bearer" and pertains to the symmetrically shaped head scales. Currently, two species are recognized.

<i>Xenopeltis</i> Genus of snakes

Xenopeltis, the sunbeam snakes, are the sole genus of the monotypic family Xenopeltidae, the species of which are found in Southeast Asia. Sunbeam snakes are known for their highly iridescent scales. Three species are recognized, each one with no subspecies. Studies of DNA suggest that the xenopeltids are most closely related to the Mexican burrowing python and to the true pythons (Pythonidae).

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

The green tree python, also known as the emerald green python, is a species of snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is native to New Guinea, some islands in Indonesia, and the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. First described by Hermann Schlegel in 1872, it was known for many years as Chondropython viridis. As its common name suggests, it is a bright green snake that can reach a total length of 2 m (6.6 ft) and a weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb), with females slightly larger and heavier than males. Living generally in trees, the green tree python mainly hunts and eats small reptiles and mammals. It is a popular pet, and numbers in the wild have suffered with large-scale smuggling of wild-caught green tree pythons in Indonesia. Despite this, the green tree python is rated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.

<i>Morelia spilota</i> Species of snake

Morelia spilota, commonly known as the carpet python, is a large snake of the family Pythonidae found in Australia, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands. Many subspecies are recognised; ITIS lists six, the Reptile Database six, and the IUCN eight.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children's python</span> Species of reptile

Children's python is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is named after John George Children. It is a nocturnal species occurring in the northern half of Australia and generally found on the ground, although it often climbs trees. Usually growing to about 1.0 m (3 ft) in length or more depending on the polymorphic variant, it is typically a reddish-brown colour, darker on the upper surface, and with many darker blotches, especially on younger specimens. The Stimson's python variant has much stronger and more variable colours; often being adorned with reddish-brown to chocolate blotches against lighter tan. It feeds mostly on small mammals and birds, and as with other pythons, it constricts its prey before swallowing it whole. It is a popular pet among reptile enthusiasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted python</span> Species of reptile

The spotted python, eastern small-blotched python, or eastern Children's python is a python species found in northern Australia and New Guinea. It is a popular pet among Australian reptile enthusiasts and other reptile enthusiasts abroad due to its small size and even temperament. No subspecies were originally recognized. However, two subspecies were recognized as of 2020; A. m. maculosa and A. m. peninsularis.

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

The Calabar python is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to West and Central Africa. It is the only species in its genus.

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

The black-headed python is a species of snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to Australia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<i>Simalia boeleni</i> Species of snake

Simalia boeleni is a species of python, a nonvenomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to the mountains of New Guinea. No subspecies are recognized. Its common names include Boelen's python and the black python.

<i>Morelia bredli</i> Species of snake

Morelia bredli is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to Australia. No subspecies are recognized. Its common names include Bredl's python, the Centralian python, the Centralian carpet python, the central Australian carpet python, Bredl's carpet python, the central Australian Bredl's carpet python, and the central Bredl's carpet python.

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

The amethystine python, also known as the scrub python or sanca permata in Indonesian, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, and noted for its coloration and size, it is one of the largest snakes in the world, as measured either by length or weight, and is the largest native snake in Papua New Guinea. Until 2000, the larger S. kinghorni was generally considered a subspecies of S. amethistina, and this change of classification has still not been universally reflected in literature. Because of this issue, S. amethistina has often been described as the largest snake in Australia, but this is not accurate since under the current classification, this species does not occur in Australia.

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

The rough-scaled python is a large-scaled python species endemic to Australia. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<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.

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

The pygmy python, also known as the anthill python, is a species of snake found in Western Australia. Their common names are due to their being the smallest member of the family Pythonidae and often being found in termite mounds. The specific epithet is derived from the state capital, Perth, although Perth is not within the range of the species. No subspecies are recognized.

<i>Morelia spilota mcdowelli</i> Subspecies of snake

Morelia spilota mcdowelli is a subspecies of Morelia spilota, commonly known as the carpet python, and is informally named the eastern, coastal, or McDowell's carpet python. The original description and name were published by Wells and Wellington in 1984. It occurs along the northeastern coast of Australia and in New Guinea.

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

The water python is a python species found in Australia and Papua New Guinea. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all other pythons, it is not venomous.

<i>Morelia imbricata</i> Species of snake

Morelia imbricata is a large snake found in southern regions of Western Australia and western South Australia. A member of the python family, it is commonly known as the southwestern carpet python.

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

D'Albertis' python, also known commonly as D'Albert's water python or the northern white-lipped python, is a species of python, a non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to New Guinea. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

References

  1. 1 2 Bruton, M.; Wilson, S.; Shea, G.; Ellis, R.; Venz, M.; Hobson, R. & Sanderson, C. (2017). "Aspidites ramsayi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T2176A83765377. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T2176A83765377.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 3 4 Browne-Cooper R, Bush B, Maryan B, Robinson D (2007). Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. University of Western Australia Press. pp. 237, 238. ISBN   978-1-920694-74-6.
  4. ↑ O'Connor F (2008). Western Australian Reptile Species. Birding Western Australia. Accessed 20 September 2007.
  5. ↑ "Aspidites ramsayi ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  6. ↑ Mehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN   0-8069-6460-X.
  7. ↑ Bruton M, Wilson S, Shea G, Ellis R, Venz M, Hobson R, Sanderson C (2017). "Aspidites ramsayi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T2176A83765377. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T2176A83765377.en. Downloaded on 02 January 2019.
  8. ↑ O'Shea M (2007). Boas and Pythons of the World. London: New Holland Publishers Ltd. 160 pp. ISBN   9781845375447.
  9. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Aspidites ramsayi, p. 216).
  10. ↑ Cerveny, Shannon N. S.; Garner, Michael M.; D'Agostino, Jennifer J.; Sekscienski, Stacey R.; Payton, Mark E.; Davis, Michelle R. (December 2012). "Evaluation of Gastroscopic Biopsy for Diagnosis Ofcryptosporidiumsp. Infection in Snakes". Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 43 (4): 864–871. doi:10.1638/2012-0143.1. ISSN   1042-7260. PMID   23272355.
  11. ↑ "Woma python (Aspidites ramsayi )". arkive.org Archived 2005-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Westhoff G, Collin SP (2008). A new type of infrared sensitive organ in the python Aspidites sp. (Abstract). Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine 6th World Congress of Herpetology. Manaus.
  13. ↑ McCurdy, Euan (2015). "Winston the python bites off more than he can chew". (http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/15/asia/python-swallows-barbeque-tongs/

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