Morelia spilota mcdowelli

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Coastal carpet python
Morelia spilota mcdowelli
Australian carpet python 03 new.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Morelia
Species:
Subspecies:
M. s. mcdowelli
Trinomial name
Morelia spilota mcdowelli
Wells & Wellington, 1984
Synonyms
  • Morelia mcdowelli - Wells & Wellington, 1984
  • Morelia spilota mcdowelli - Barker & Barker, 1994 [1]
Hatchlings of carpet python on Great Keppel Island Morelia spilota mcdowelli00.jpg
Hatchlings of carpet python on Great Keppel Island

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. [2] [3] The original description and name was published by Wells and Wellington in 1984. [4] It occurs along the northeastern coast of Australia and in New Guinea.

Contents

Description

Morelia spilota mcdowelli Morelia spilota head.jpg
Morelia spilota mcdowelli
Morelia spilota mcdowelli digesting a meal at Toonumbar National Park, NSW CarpetPython-MurrayScrub-meal.jpg
Morelia spilota mcdowelli digesting a meal at Toonumbar National Park, NSW

This is a subspecies of Morelia spilota and usually attains lengths of 2.7–3 m (9–10 feet) in length.

Dorsally they are generally olive brown to tan in color with paler blotches and stripes. The pattern and colour are highly variable. Midbody scales in 40-60 rows. They have a single anal scale and their subcaudal scales are divided. Most of the head scales are small, beadlike and arranged irregularly.

Habitat and range

They are widespread in Australia in eastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. The type locality given is "Terania Creek, N.S.W." (New South Wales, Australia). [1] they may be encountered on the ground, draped across boughs of trees or coiled up in undergrowth. They are frequently found residing in the roofs of houses even in well settled suburban areas, rainforest, wet or dry eucalypt forest, heathland, pasture, agricultural and urban areas.

Notes

They are active by day or night (nocturnal and diurnal) feeding mainly on "warm blooded" prey like possums, rats, flying foxes and birds, and occasionally poultry, domestic cats and small dogs. Attempts at eating cane toads are fatal. They lay up to ~35 eggs. They sometimes exhibit unpredictable and aggressive behavior. Bites are not venomous, however the bites can cause lacerations. Tetanus protection is recommended.

Taxonomy

Placed in synonymy by Underwood and Stimson (1990). [1]

Eggs and incubation period

This large species of python can lay up-to 35 eggs which the female will coil herself around, and if the eggs are removed incubated at 84-86f the young will emerge after 65-70 Days.

Related Research Articles

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<i>Morelia</i> (snake) Genus of large snakes

Morelia is a genus of large snakes in the family Pythonidae found in Indonesia, New Guinea, and throughout Australia. Currently, up to eight species are recognized.

<i>Loxocemus</i> species of reptile

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<i>Morelia spilota</i> species of reptile

Morelia spilota, commonly referred to as the carpet python or diamond python, is a large snake of the family Pythonidae found in Australia, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands. Many subspecies are described: ITIS lists six, the Reptile Database seven, and the IUCN eight.

Childrens python Species of reptile

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Spotted python Species of reptile

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<i>Xenopeltis unicolor</i> species of reptile

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Woma python species of reptile

The woma python, also known commonly as Ramsay's python, the sand python, and simply the woma, is a species of snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Once common throughout Western Australia, it has become critically endangered in some regions.

Black-headed python species of reptile

The black-headed python is a species of snake in the Pythonidae. The species is native to Australia. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Morelia spilota cheynei</i> morelia

Morelia spilota cheynei, or the jungle carpet python, is a python subspecies found in the rainforests of Queensland, Australia.

<i>Morelia bredli</i> species of reptile

Morelia bredli is a non-venomous python species found in Australia. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Rough-scaled python species of reptile

Morelia carinata, commonly known as the rough-scaled python, is a large-scaled python species endemic to Australia. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Stimsons python species of reptile

Stimson's python is a species of python, a snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Stimson's pythons are sold and kept as pets in some Australian states.

Pygmy python species of reptile

The pygmy python, also known as the anthill python, is a species of snake found in Western Australia. Their common names refer to the fact that they are the smallest member of the family Pythonidae and are often found in termite mounds. The specific epithet is derived from the state capital, Perth, despite the fact that this place is not within the range of the species. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Morelia spilota spilota</i> subspecies of reptile

Morelia spilota spilota is a subspecies of carpet python, popularly known as the diamond python. It is a medium to large snake, found in coastal areas and adjacent ranges of south-eastern Australia. It is the most southerly occurring python in the world and is found at higher altitudes than any other species of Australian python.

<i>Morelia spilota metcalfei</i> species of reptile

Morelia spilota metcalfei is a python subspecies found in Australia, commonly known as the Murray Darling carpet python. The pythons are non-venomous snakes that constrict their prey. They grow up to 2.7m, but adults are usually around 2.4m. Color varies depending on locality; Victorian MD's are silver with solid black blotches and stripes, as we move into NSW the silver becomes a light brown and the patterning becomes more of a dark brown rather than black, the SA MD's introduce patches of maroon. These pythons are semi-arboreal, typically inhabiting rocky outcrops, dry woodlands, riverine forests and flood plains. The threats to the snakes are people and other snakes.

<i>Morelia spilota variegata</i> subspecies of reptile

Morelia spilota variegata, commonly known as carpet python, is a subspecies of python found in New Guinea and Australia, smaller than the nominate subspecies Morelia spilota spilota and has a more restricted geographic range.

The water python is a non-venomous python species found in Australia and Papua New Guinea. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Morelia spilota imbricata</i> subspecies of reptile

Morelia spilota 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 Southwest carpet python.

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. Morelia spilota at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 17 September 2007.
  3. "Carpet pythons (Morelia spilotes sp.)". Care Sheet. Monaro Amphibian & Reptile Keepers (MARK). Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  4. "Morelia spilota mcdowelli". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 15 February 2008.